During a recent interview, Robert Redfield, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Trump administration, expressed his support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. potentially leading the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
When NewsNation’s Brian Entin asked Redfield on Sunday about concerns that Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance might influence public health policy, Redfield dismissed the notion. He emphasized that Kennedy’s position was not anti-vaccine, but rather focused on advocating for transparency in vaccine discussions and calling for data to prove their safety and efficacy.
Robert Redfield explains his endorsement of RFK Jr. for HHS role
“I don’t think that’s the case, Brian,” Redfield explained. “I’m one of the biggest vaccine advocates. When I was CDC director, I often said that vaccines are the greatest gift of science to modern medicine, and I still believe that.” Redfield clarified that Kennedy is not opposed to vaccines but seeks a more open conversation about their safety.
Redfield served as CDC director from 2018 to 2021 and has long been a strong proponent of vaccination. However, Kennedy has maintained a prominent position as a vaccine skeptic since at least 2005, repeatedly claiming a link between vaccines and autism, despite the lack of supporting scientific evidence.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate listed Kennedy as one of the leading figures in spreading anti-vaccine content online. In 2021, Kennedy labeled the COVID-19 vaccine as the “deadliest vaccine ever made,” referencing data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
VAERS, which is operated by both the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration, allows anyone to report post-vaccine side effects. However, the system does not verify the reports before they are added to the database.
