In June, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s advisory committee, reflecting his anti-vaccine beliefs that clash with scientific consensus. Dr. Peter J. Hotez, a vaccine researcher who helped develop the Covid-19 vaccine, discussed these issues with Think host Krys Boyd. Hotez emphasized that the spread of anti-science ideas is not just random misinformation; it’s organized, politically and financially motivated, and has dangerous implications, contributing to public health crises.
Hotez highlighted the threats he and his co-author faced, including smear campaigns and personal safety threats due to their work. A central issue in the anti-science movement is the debunked claim linking vaccines to autism, a topic Hotez approached personally, being a father of a child with autism. Despite efforts to engage Kennedy in discussions on vaccine safety and the real environmental causes of autism, Hotez found Kennedy dismissive of scientific evidence. Ultimately, Hotez argued that the ongoing misinformation poses a lethal threat to public health and safety.
