Kennedy's reluctance to endorse COVID-19 vaccines has fueled public skepticism towards vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, and others. Pediatricians are facing rising vaccine hesitancy, prompting discussions about the status of unvaccinated patients. Exemptions for school vaccinations have increased notably, impacting health systems. Concerns have arisen over the safety of adult vaccines, particularly concerning pregnant women and new vaccines like maternal RSV. Professional medical organizations are voicing opposition to Kennedy's views, seeking to clarify vaccine efficacy and safety.
"They feel like if the government has chosen RFK Jr. to be the head of Health and Human Services, there must be something to that. There must be a reason to question vaccines," said Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
"It's gotten so bad that you're concerned about the waiting room with a lot of children who are unvaccinated. That's a risk, not only to them, but the children they come in contact with," Offit said.
Vaccine hesitancy is not a new phenomenon: Kindergarten exemptions from one or more vaccines grew in 36 states and the District of Columbia during the 2024-2025 school year.
Professional societies like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics have been increasingly out front publicly disagreeing with Kennedy's stances.
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