USA – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, as his nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Kennedy, known for his critical stance on vaccines and federal health agencies, is expected to play a key role in shaping public health policy if confirmed.
However, the announcement has already caused significant market turmoil, particularly in vaccine stocks.
As news of Kennedy’s nomination spread late Thursday, stocks in vaccine manufacturers plummeted.
Sanofi saw the most significant loss, dropping over US $5 billion in valuation, while shares of Moderna fell by more than 5%.
Other major pharmaceutical companies, including Novavax, Pfizer, and BioNTech, also experienced declines, contributing to a total loss of over US $25 billion in market capitalization.
In response to the nomination, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, stating, “HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.
Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic.”
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and long-time advocate for vaccine safety, previously ran as an independent candidate in the most recent U.S. presidential election.
He suspended his campaign in August to endorse Trump. At a recent rally, Trump remarked that if re-elected, he would allow Kennedy to “go wild” on health and medicine policy.
However, the nomination has sparked criticism from various sectors, particularly from Democrats and medical professionals.
Senator Ed Markey denounced the pick, calling Kennedy “dangerous,” “unqualified,” and “unserious.”
There were also reports indicating potential unrest among FDA staff, with some considering leaving the agency due to concerns over Kennedy’s appointment.
As Trump’s unconventional Cabinet choices raise eyebrows, Kennedy’s nomination is likely to face a contentious confirmation process.
With a Republican-controlled Senate, securing approval for his pick may prove challenging.
Meanwhile, Kennedy addressed concerns over his stance on vaccines during a recent NBC interview, clarifying, “I’m not going to take away anybody’s vaccines. I’ve never been anti-vaccine… People ought to have choice and that choice ought to be informed by the best information, so I’m going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy [studies] are out there so people can make individual assessments.”
He also indicated plans to restructure federal health agencies, specifically targeting departments such as the FDA’s nutrition division, suggesting some downsizing.
Outgoing FDA Commissioner Robert Califf expressed uncertainty about the future of the agency, stating at a recent meeting, “People are waiting to see… the change could happen internally or externally, depending on who gets appointed into key positions.”
