Lauren Weber,Lena H. Sun and David Ovalle, (c) 2024 , The Washington Post

The ascension of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, to the nation’s top health post has alarmed medical experts, who point to his history of trafficking in conspiracy theories as disqualifying to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy, whom President-elect Donald Trump selected as health secretary on Thursday, will be charged with a massive portfolio overseeing Americans’ insurance, drugs, medical supplies and food if the Senate confirms him.

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“He is one of the most prominent anti-vaccine activists in the United States and globally, and he has been at this for 20 years,” said Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

Kennedy’s anti-vaccine beliefs and advocacy work prompted Hotez to write a book about his autistic daughter titled “Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism,” said Hotez, adding that he has spoken to Kennedy several times in the past about his views on vaccines.

Kennedy’s spokeswoman previously told The Washington Post that he is not “anti-vaccine.” When asked to respond Thursday to his history of false health claims, she pointed to Kennedy’s statement on X, thanking Trump for picking him and pledging to “Make...

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