RFK Jr. pledges unbiased investigation into chronic disease causes, including vaccines
By willowt // 2025-02-20
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  • Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged to conduct a comprehensive, unbiased investigation into the causes of chronic diseases, including controversial areas like the childhood vaccine schedule and the safety of antidepressants.
  • Kennedy emphasized the need for "radical transparency" and promised to convene stakeholders from all viewpoints to study the causes of the nation's chronic disease epidemic, ensuring no topic is off-limits.
  • Specific areas of investigation include the childhood vaccine schedule, the safety of psychiatric drugs like SSRIs, and environmental and dietary factors such as electromagnetic radiation, pesticides and artificial food additives.
  • Kennedy's agenda aims to reestablish public trust in government health agencies by removing conflicts of interest and addressing the perceived influence of corporate interests in health policy.
  • By promising to base decisions on the best available data, Kennedy hopes to usher in a new era of transparency and accountability in health policy, making America healthier.
In his first address to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) staff, newly confirmed Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged to conduct an "unbiased scientific investigation" into the potential causes of chronic diseases, including areas previously considered taboo, such as the childhood vaccine schedule and the safety of antidepressants.

A bold new agenda for HHS

Kennedy's speech, which was both a call to reexamine settled science and a pledge to depoliticize health issues, marks a significant shift in the approach to public health policy. He emphasized the need for "radical transparency" and promised to convene stakeholders of all viewpoints to study the causes of the nation's chronic disease epidemic. "Nothing is going to be off limits," Kennedy told the packed room, including his own past beliefs. "We will convene representatives of all viewpoints to study the causes for the drastic rise in chronic disease. Some of the possible factors we will investigate were formerly taboo or insufficiently scrutinized."

Investigating taboo topics

Among the factors Kennedy plans to investigate are:
  • Childhood vaccine schedule: Kennedy has long been a critic of vaccine safety, raising questions about the link between vaccines and chronic diseases like autism. Despite numerous studies showing no connection, Kennedy insists on revisiting this issue. "If the data shows I'm wrong, I'll admit it," he said, though he has been criticized for his skepticism.
  • Psychiatric drugs: The safety and efficacy of SSRIs and other antidepressants are also on the list. Kennedy's interest in this area is part of a broader effort to reevaluate the pharmaceutical industry's role in public health.
  • Environmental and dietary factors: Other areas of investigation include electromagnetic radiation, glyphosate and other pesticides, ultraprocessed foods, artificial food additives, PFAS and PFOA chemicals and microplastics.

Historical context and modern relevance

Kennedy's remarks are particularly significant given the historical context of health policy in the United States. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, which shields vaccine manufacturers from financial liability, has long been a point of contention. Kennedy argues that this law creates "perverse incentives" for pharmaceutical companies to prioritize profit over safety. Moreover, the rise in chronic diseases, including autism and obesity, has been a growing concern in recent decades. Critics argue that factors such as processed foods, environmental toxins and the overuse of pharmaceuticals have contributed to this trend. Kennedy's agenda reflects a growing movement among conservative and natural health advocates who believe that the current health system is failing to address these issues adequately.

Reestablishing trust and transparency

Kennedy's approach is also aimed at reestablishing public trust in government health agencies, which he believes have been compromised by conflicts of interest and corporate influence. "Both science and democracy flourish from the free and unimpeded flow of information," he said. "We will remove conflicts of interest in the committees and research partners whenever possible and will shut the revolving door to reestablish public trust." This commitment is particularly relevant in light of recent mass firings at federal health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Kennedy did not directly address these firings but noted, "I trust the idealism of most of the people who work at HHS. I also understand the corrosive power of money as it infiltrates and captures institutions like ours."

A call to action

Kennedy's speech is a call to action for HHS staff and the broader public health community. By promising to subject all potential causes of chronic disease to unbiased investigation, he hopes to usher in a new era of transparency and accountability in health policy. "We will let the science lead us, and we will make decisions based on the best available data," Kennedy concluded. "Together, we can make America healthy again." Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org WashingtonExaminer.com ABCNews.com TheHill.com
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