Over 750 Federal Health Officials Sign Letter To RKF Jr. Telling Him To Stop Spreading Misinformation
More than 750 current and former U.S. health officials have signed a letter condemning Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for spreading vaccine misinformation and undermining public trust in institutions like the CDC. The letter follows the August 8th mass shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, where a gunman, who believed the COVID-19 vaccine caused his mental health issues, killed a police officer before taking his own life.
The employees, many of whom are from the CDC, NIH, and HHS, say Kennedy’s “dangerous and deceitful statements” have put public health at risk and fueled mistrust that directly contributed to the attack. They cited examples like Kennedy calling the CDC a “cesspool of corruption,” falsely claiming mRNA vaccines failed against COVID and flu, and Kennedy removing experts from vaccine advisory panels. The letter accuses him of being “complicit in dismantling America’s public health infrastructure” and called for him to stop spreading misinformation, reaffirm CDC’s scientific integrity, and ensure staff safety by September 2nd.
In response, HHS said Kennedy “is standing firmly with CDC employees” and condemned attempts to “politicize a tragedy.” Kennedy, who visited the CDC after the shooting, said, “No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.” But critics, including former CDC Director William Foege, warn that Kennedy’s words “can be as lethal as the smallpox virus,” and that the damage to public health credibility could be long-lasting.
