Robert F. Kennedy Jr ascended to the role of health secretary in 2025. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare
"He's an anti-vaccine activist. That's who he is. That's who he's been for 20 years."
Those were the words of Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, who spoke to Reuters along with 16 current and former Trump administration officials about US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Since becoming health secretary Kennedy has pushed through some of the biggest changes to US vaccine policy in decades – and sought to go much further than previously known to dismantle the status quo. He's been aided in these efforts by his closest adviser Stefanie Spear, and Aaron Siri, one of the most prominent advocates challenging American health agencies and vaccine makers over alleged injuries.
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