Former FDA commissioner warns of risk of deaths with Kennedy Jr. as health secretary

Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), argues that the appointment of Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), could represent a risk Well, being an anti-vaccine character, he would prevent children from having access to them, exposing them to infectious diseases such as measles, poliomyelitis and whooping cough, which – in certain cases – could be fatal.

President-elect Donald Trump stressed on the Truth Social platform that ensuring the health of citizens is the most important position of the Administration and that is why he leaned towards Kennedy Jr.

“I am delighted to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States (HHS),” he wrote.

However, the decision not only worries Democrats, as there are some conservatives who consider the designation a mistake, such as Gottlieb.

During an interview with the television channel CNBCthe 52-year-old doctor shared his concern about an opponent of vaccination holding a key position in ensuring the health of Americans.

“I think that if Kennedy Jr. follows through with his intentions, and I think it will, It can cost lives in this country. We will see measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates decline and, as I said, if we lose another 5% of vaccination — which could happen in the next year or two — we will see large measles outbreaks,” he warned.

Gottlieb, who resigned from the FDA in 2019 to join the board of directors of the transnational pharmaceutical company Pfizer, He is confident that Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation to head the health department will be rejected by the Senate.

“I think there is skepticism in the Republican bloc, more than I think the press is reporting at this time,” he emphasized.

Despite how controversial the appointment of the Washington lawyer may be, Donald Trump promised him the position in reciprocity at the end of his campaign as an independent presidential candidatebecause he felt that stepping aside would help him return to the White House.

Keep reading:

• Trump chooses Robert F. Kennedy Jr., anti-vaccine activist, as Secretary of Health

• Kennedy Jr. anticipates dismantling the FDA as soon as Trump takes office

• Who is Robert Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine activist that Trump chose to lead the Health Department