Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered a keynote at a Children's Health Defense meeting in Washington, D.C., making clear that the Trump administration's campaign to overhaul federal vaccine policy is far from over. Kennedy questioned the safety of routine childhood vaccines, claimed they contribute to chronic illness, and reassured the audience that President Trump is fully committed to the cause.

Kennedy also addressed frustrations from within the Make America Healthy Again movement over the administration's pace, explaining that government bureaucracy and legal constraints have slowed progress. He dismissed rumors of a post-midterm departure, vowing to stay in the fight as long as possible.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump signed an executive order splitting the childhood MMR vaccine into three separate shots delivered at different visits
• HHS is actively conducting studies on vaccine safety, including adjuvant effects, vaccination during pregnancy, and links to autism and autoimmune diseases
• Experts, including Johns Hopkins' Amesh Adalja, note that vaccine safety is scientifically well-established and have expressed concern about the rigor of RFK Jr.-directed research

Why it matters: With HHS-commissioned vaccine safety studies expected in the second half of Trump's term, public health experts fear the results may lack scientific rigor — potentially fueling further erosion of vaccine confidence at a critical time.