A recent NPR investigation has raised serious concerns about the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) document sent to Congress to justify Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to withdraw CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in healthy children and pregnant women. According to NPR, the FAQ distributed by HHS relies on studies that are either unpublished, under publisher investigation, or misrepresented in their findings. 

Since his appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly provided inaccurate or disputed information in both public statements and official documents.

NPR identified several major issues with the FAQ:

• Selective and Misleading Use of Research: The FAQ references a preprint study to suggest heightened risks of myocarditis and pericarditis from COVID-19 vaccination. However, one of the study’s co-authors told NPR that the research did not compare vaccinated individuals to those infected with COVID-19, meaning it cannot support the FAQ’s claims.
• Omission of Contradictory Evidence: The document omits multiple peer-reviewed studies that show the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis is actually higher after COVID-19 infection than after vaccination. NPR notes that updated vaccine protocols have further reduced these risks, and the current scientific literature does not support the FAQ’s framing.
• Claims About Pregnancy Risks Not Supported by Cited Studies: The FAQ asserts increased risks for pregnant women, such as placental blood clotting, but NPR found that the studies cited do not substantiate these claims. In fact, the referenced papers support the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy.
• Transparency Issues: The FAQ was not made publicly available on the HHS website and was only distributed to members of Congress, raising concerns about transparency and the bypassing of established advisory processes.

In response to these criticisms, HHS has defended the FAQ and the policy shift. An HHS spokesperson told NPR that “the underlying data speaks for itself, and it raises legitimate safety concerns,” emphasizing that the department is committed to following the data and science, even as medical experts and scientists dispute the document’s accuracy and methodology. Kennedy and his team have maintained that the Secretary has the authority to amend vaccine recommendations and that the decision is rooted in a review of current scientific evidence.

Kennedy has not medical or scientific background or training.

As Health and Human Services Secretary, RFK Jr. has provided falsified information on several occassions:

Statements on Measles Outbreak and Vaccine Safety (Spring 2025)

• During a measles outbreak, Kennedy blamed malnutrition for child deaths without evidence and incorrectly claimed the measles vaccine causes “deaths every year” and “all the illnesses that measles itself can cause.” He also promoted unproven remedies like cod-liver oil and delayed public health responses, which experts say contributed to additional harm.

Citing Nonexistent Studies in Official Reports

• In the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) report released by HHS under RFK Jr., at least seven cited sources do not exist. The report also contains numerous errors, including broken links and misstated conclusions, undermining its credibility and spreading misinformation to justify policy priorities.

Autism and Disability Remarks (April 2025)

• In his first official press briefing as HHS Secretary, Kennedy claimed that autistic children “will never pay taxes, they’ll never hold a job, they’ll never play baseball, they’ll never write a poem, they’ll never go out on a date, many of them will never use a toilet unassisted. These statements are completely untrue.

False and Misleading Claims in Media Interviews

• In his first interview as HHS Secretary, RFK Jr. made several incorrect or exaggerated statements:
  • Claimed the U.S. “literally” has “the sickest population in the world,” which is an exaggeration; while Americans have poorer health than other wealthy nations, they are not the sickest globally.
  • Asserted that Americans “buy 70% of the pharmaceutical drugs on Earth,” when the actual figure is around 6%.
  • Claimed replacing seed oils with beef tallow in fast food would make burgers “good for people,” despite evidence that this would likely harm health. Seed oils are not the issue, the processed food that is prepared in or includes seed oils are most likely the culprit with inflammation.
  • Incorrectly stated that the NIH told doctors and patients not to report injuries after taking an abortion drug; in reality, the drug in question is regulated by the FDA, not the NIH, and has stringent adverse event reporting requirements.
  • Claimed that “almost all” members of HHS advisory committees have “severe conflicts of interest,” ignoring federal rules that prevent such conflicts.
  • Repeated the false claim that “vaccines are the one medical product that is exempt from prelicensing safety studies,” despite all vaccines being tested for safety before approval.

Promotion of Debunked Vaccine-Autism Link

• Continues to promote the thoroughly debunked theory linking vaccines to autism, including appointing vaccine critics to lead studies and referencing discredited researchers and methods. In Senate hearings, promoted false claims about vaccine safety and “cures” for autism, including dangerous pseudo-therapies like chelation, which have been proven unsafe and ineffective.