Donald Trump signed an executive order today that seeks to change the childhood vaccine schedule. Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have spread disinformation that has reduced trust in the safety of vaccines and sowed chaos and confusion among families. Meanwhile, Americans continue to face skyrocketing healthcare costs after Trump and Republicans passed the largest cut to healthcare in history.
In response, Dr. Kelly Morrison released the following statement:
“Donald Trump and RFK Jr. have gambled with American lives and seem determined to turn the clock back on decades of medical and scientific progress. Communities across the country continue to face outbreaks of preventable diseases, and Trump and RFK Jr. are doubling down on their dangerous disinformation. Meanwhile, working families continue to see their healthcare and prescription drug costs skyrocket — all so Trump can pay for tax handouts for billionaires. Families shouldn’t have to worry that Trump and RFK Jr. will stand in the way of protecting themselves and their loved ones from serious illnesses.”
Under RFK Jr.’s watch, there have been notable outbreaks of several diseases, and the vaccine misinformation RFK Jr. has spent years pushing has worsened the spread of serious illnesses, including measles, flu, rotavirus, and whooping cough. RFK Jr. has promoted unproven and dangerous alternatives to vaccines and standard treatments, and during his first week at HHS, he eliminated a successful flu vaccine campaign and directed the CDC to remove any advertising encouraging vaccinations.
Last month, the U.S. officially surpassed the total number of measles cases in 2026 as were reported in all of 2025. More than 25 years after the virus was declared eliminated, the U.S. is poised to lose its measles elimination status if it fails to prove it can stop the spread of measles.
