Robert Kennedy Jr. has announced he will chair President Donald Trump's new commission on vaccine safety.
Kennedy is viewed by some to be a divisive choice, as he is a proponent of the unpopular and discredited theory that vaccination causes autism in children. However, a source close to the president has said that a final decision has yet to be made.
Health professionals have been vocal about the appointment, saying that putting a supporter of a conspiracy theory in a position of authority is dangerous.
“That’s very frightening,” said Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “It’s difficult to imagine anyone less qualified to serve on a commission for vaccine science.”
Kennedy also supports non-medical exemptions for people who want to avoid having their school-aged children vaccinated, which is mandatory in most states. He has also said government scientists, journalists and pharmaceutical companies have worked together to hide the truth from the public.
Some view Kennedy as troubling choice for vaccine safety committee
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