RFK Jr. He was on the losing side of the vaccine fights in California. Now Donald Trump wants him in his cabinet

Stay up to date with free briefings on issues important to all Californians. Subscribe to CalMatters Get nonprofit news in your inbox today.

Five years ago, hundreds of people packed the halls of the State Capitol to protest legislation aimed at tightening California’s vaccine rules. Outside, music was chanting something about revolution and people were holding signs that said: “Vaccination guidelines violate bodily autonomy.” A familiar, idolized face emerged from the sea of ​​red-clad protesters. by anti-vaccine activists: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

He was the guest of honor at an event biggest public health showdowns what the state has seen in recent years. Ultimately he and his followers lost: Parliament passed a law restricting fraudulent or improper medical exemptions for mandatory childhood vaccinations.

Today Kennedy finds himself on a bigger stage with potentially much more influence and power. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated the former environmental lawyer turned controversial vaccine critic as Secretary of Health and Human Services to oversee the nation’s health policy.

He is known to make false and occasionally dangerous claims about medicine and public health. Perhaps the most famous linked vaccines to autism – a claim that has been debunked many times.

With Kennedy taking over as head of the federal health department, health leaders and advocates in California and across the country are voicing concerns and preparing to combat a potential wave of medical disinformation.

Some say having a vaccine skeptic at the head of the U.S. Health and Human Services agency could lead more Americans to refuse to get vaccinated, potentially putting lives at risk. It could also embolden the anti-vaccine movement in California.

Dr. Richard PanThe pediatrician, who as a state senator wrote the 2019 medical exemption bill and a separate bill eliminating personal belief exemptions for childhood vaccines, said it was “dangerous” and “disturbing” to have a health secretary who casts doubt on vaccines.

“I predict we will see much more direct attacks on individual scientists, on individual people. I guess I’ll probably be taken somewhere by those men too. “I don’t think RFK Jr. has forgotten me yet,” he said.

Pan said he met Kennedy twice when he traveled to Sacramento to oppose Kennedy’s bills.

Enforcing these laws made Pan the target of harassment and attacks, and at one point anti-vaccine activist pushed him Pan walking down a Sacramento street. At the protests, anti-vaccine activists pasted Pan’s face on posters with the words “LIAR” written in red letters.

Now those demonstrating against the vaccine bills are celebrating Kennedy’s potential place in Trump’s cabinet and calling for “justice” through social media posts.

In one of their final debates, Pan called for Kennedy to be banned from social media platforms after Kennedy promoted COVID disinformation. Kennedy in reply he told the Sacramento Bee He said Pan’s demand for censorship was anti-American.

Recently, Kennedy has taken a more measured approach when responding to questions about vaccines. After Trump’s victory he told NBC News He said he was not aiming to remove vaccines from the market, but instead advocated for informed choice.

“If vaccines are useful to someone, I will not take them away,” he said.

RFK Jr. What can he do as health secretary?

If Kennedy is confirmed as head of Health and Human Services, he would oversee a $1.7 trillion budget and nearly a dozen agencies. He will be responsible for managing pandemic preparedness and will be responsible for issues ranging from health insurance to food safety.

Any controversial changes would likely be met with lawsuits that could slow or derail Kennedy’s proposals, experts say. Still, there are several ways that anti-vaccine sentiment in the federal government could undermine public health gains in the states.

For example, school vaccination mandates are issued by states, and while the federal government cannot directly change them, it could decide to withhold public health funds such as grants sent to states to help fund vaccination efforts, UC Law professor Dorit Reiss said. SanFrancisco.

As health secretary, Kennedy will also have the authority to appoint members of an advisory committee that will make recommendations on vaccine administration to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Reiss added that the health minister also has the power to accelerate or limit access to new vaccines, which will be especially important in the event of another outbreak.