Newsroom | Defend Public Health

RFK Jr's Whopper of the Week

Whopper of the Week: Kennedy claims that vaccines cause autism

Defend Public Health's Whopper of the Week: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s claims that vaccines cause autism spectrum disorder.

Kennedy commission child health report ignores gun violence, the leading cause of child death

DPH Coordinating Committee member Bruce Mirken slams RFK Jr.'s "MAHA strategy" that's supposed to be about protecting child health for ignoring gun violence: “If you’re putting out a report that’s supposed to address how to help our children stay healthier, and you’re not even mentioning the No. 1 cause of childhood deaths, you ought to be embarrassed."

Trump Defends RFK Jr. for Out-of-Box Thinking

The decidedly pro-Trump outlet NewsMax puts a positive spin on his recent comments about HHS Secretary Kennedy and vaccines, but notes our warnings not to trust what Kennedy says about vaccines and autism.

Trump backs Kennedy on vaccines despite health, political risks

While some news outlets suggest that President Trump is distancing himself from RFK Jr., this story suggests he's standing by him for now -- quoting DPH Coordinating Committee member Gregg Gonsalves saying of Trump and Kennedy: "They made a marriage of convenience and now it's a marriage that's going to have unprecedented and disastrous results for public health, healthcare and biomedical research."

Elizabeth Jacobs on RFK Jr. and Public Health

On "CounterSpin," a national radio show produced by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, DPH Coordinating Committee member Elizabeth Jacobs discusses the many misdeeds of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, what Defend Public Health is doing about it, and how his tenure has been treated by the media.

Inside Health Policy

Scientists Outline Established Data On Autism Ahead of RFK Jr.'s New Findings

Inside Health Policy covers Defending Public Health's report "Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder" and how it challenges likely anti-vaccine propaganda in RFK Jr.'s forthcoming report on the "root causes" of autism.

Florida Plans To Eliminate All Vaccine Mandates - What That Means For Us

Forbes reports on Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo's announcement that the state will remove all school vaccination requirements with comments from DPH Coordinating Member Beth Jacobs on the grave impact the move will have on the health of children and the broader community.

The nation

RFK Jr., American Psycho

DPH Coordinating Committee Member Gregg Gonsalves reflects on the chaos RFK Jr. has brought to Federal Health agencies and the larger American health care system and calls for his removal.

Public health coalition: Don’t trust RFK Jr on autism

It's us. Defend Public Health is the coalition saying that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shouldn't be trusted with his anticipated report on Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is set to be released this month. We aren't sure what is coming, but it is likely to be misinformation, pseudoscience, and nonsense. That is why we released our own report based on the 30,000 plus scientific papers that have been published on the topic of risk factors for ASD.

defend public health

Don’t Believe RFK Jr. on Autism, Says New Report from Defend Public Health

With Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promising to announce “causes” of a supposed “autism epidemic” this month, Defend Public Health is preemptively warning the public not to trust anything that he or HHS says on the subject without confirming with other sources. To arm journalists and the public with the facts, DPH has released a summary of what is known and not known about causes and risk factors for autism spectrum disorder, including the extensive evidence that vaccines are not to blame, in its new report, Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder: What We Already Know from Scientific Evidence.

RFK Jr Faces Senate Finance Committee. Here’s What They Should Ask

This new article in Forbes describes the questions that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should face in his Senate Hearing on September 4th, and includes a mention of Defend Public Health's new evidence-based report on the risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder, which do not include vaccines.

RFK Jr's Whopper of the Week

Whopper of the Week: Kennedy claims that COVID19 vaccines are accessible to all who want them

Kennedy has not made COVID19 vaccines accessible to "people who want them, especially the vulnerable". He has made them less accessible to those who need them. His actions are in direct conflict with the scientific evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of COVID19 vaccines, as well as the recommendations from expert professionals.