The health of Utahns and all Americans is at stake with the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
The Secretary of the DHHS oversees 13 agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world’s largest center for biomedical research and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the foremost authority in public health in the United States. These institutions have developed countless life-saving vaccines, medications and health policies. The work of the DHHS is essential in protecting Americans from both historical diseases and emerging health threats, such as avian influenza.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is unqualified to lead this department. His extensive history of disseminating dangerous misinformation poses a significant threat to public health. For example, his long-term activism against the use of safe childhood vaccines threatens the remarkable advancements achieved over the past century in combating communicable diseases. In 2019, the misinformation propagated by his organization regarding measles vaccines contributed to a measles outbreak in Samoa, resulting in more than 5,700 infections and 83 fatalities, predominantly among young children. At a time when we have proven, safe and highly effective measures to prevent measles, there is an alarming decline in global vaccination rates.
Utah is the youngest state in the United States. Despite our collective vulnerability to infections, we rank third nationally in vaccine exemptions. Our measles vaccination rates fall far short of what epidemiologists consider essential for herd immunity. Since 2018, there have been no reported cases of measles in Utah. It is crucial that we take measures to prevent the resurgence of this lethal disease, as well as any other vaccine preventable diseases.
A vote for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would take America back to a troubling era when countless children suffered and died from horrific infections, leaving many with lifelong disabilities. As we face 2025, following the hottest year on record and concerning reports of new influenza strains, it is crucial we look ahead. We must focus on how to ensure that groundbreaking biomedical innovations are distributed equitably and how to safeguard our most vulnerable populations from diseases of the 21st century. We also need to consider how to effectively train and support the next generation of healthcare professionals and scientists dedicated to protecting our health in the future.
We are a part of a coalition of dozens of biologists, epidemiologists, physicians, pharmacists, educators and leaders in medicine and research in Utah who reached out to Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis, urging them to vote no on RFK Jr.’s nomination. Our group, alongside thousands of other educators, health care professionals, researchers and public health leaders in the state, is committed to protecting the health of Utahns. We sincerely hope our senators will join us in this commitment.
(Susana Williams Keeshin) Susana Williams Keeshin, MD, is an infectious disease clinician and scientist based in Salt Lake City.
Susana Williams Keeshin, MD, is an infectious disease clinician and scientist based in Salt Lake City. This editorial represents her personal opinions and not those of her employer.
(Katharine S. Walter) Katharine S. Walter, PhD, is an infectious disease epidemiologist based in Salt Lake City.
Katharine S. Walter, PhD, is an infectious disease epidemiologist based in Salt Lake City. This editorial represents her personal opinions and not those of her employer.
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