116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Remove RFK Jr. from HHS
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
I have practiced Family Medicine in Iowa for 45 years. I am adamantly opposed to Robert Kennedy, Jr. having any role with Health and Human Services, particularly as secretary of the department.
My early medical career in the 1970s included having dozens of patients with measles and a few with Hemophilus Influenza B. These are serious infections. Hemophilus caused bacterial meningitis in several of my pediatric patients, leaving them with diminished mental capacity. One of my patients died from laryngeal obstruction. Around 1985 a vaccine became available for this disease. Now you no longer hear about the disease and for good reason — the vaccination works.
Major medical journals including the American Family Physician and the Journal of the American Medical Association have printed prominent editorials opposing RFK, Jr.’s policies, ideas, and position at HHS. The American Academy of Pediatrics has reaffirmed the need to continue the vaccination schedule already in place before any changes suggested this year by the current CDC and to follow the recommendations of the AAP rather than of the CDC. The first Hepatitis B vaccine needs to be given at birth. The MMR needs to be given at 12 to 15 months of age and MMRV at 4 to 6 years of age. The COVID vaccine should be started at age 6 months.
RFK, Jr. lacks any evidence of being a critical, objective, scientific thinker. He has stopped research contracts and $500 million funding for mRNA development projects because of his false impression that mRNA vaccines are dangerous. In actual fact, the mRNA vaccine has fewer impurities than traditional vaccines and is easier to mass produce. RFK, Jr. replaced the usual CDC scientists that give final approval to vaccination schedules. As a result, the CDC expressed doubt on giving the Hepatitis B vaccination at birth and advises against giving the COVID vaccination to healthy children. RFK, Jr. is causing serious harm to the vaccination program and research in the United States. He is crippling medical science and its preparedness for current and future diseases.
RFK, Jr. must be removed from HHS!
Donald G Flory, M.D. lives in Clinton.
Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters