2 days Ago By Isaac Davison
The nomination of vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy jnr to the top health role in the United States has alarmed public health experts, who say it will probably damage efforts to protect against infectious diseases in New Zealand and the Pacific. Samoan health authorities were especially concerned about his appointment, pointing to his alleged role in contributing to vaccine hesitancy before the devastating 2019 measles epidemic .
US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Kennedy as his Health Secretary last week. A former presidential candidate with a background as an environmental lawyer, he is one of the highest-profile anti-vaccination activists in the world. His appointment would be felt everywhere, experts told the Herald .
“It’s something that’s going to impact all of us across the world,” said Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, vaccinologist at the University of Auckland and co-director of the Global Vaccine Data Network..
