What does the word “science” mean to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? During his congressional confirmation hearings for the role, he promised “unbiased, gold-standard science” under his leadership. Yesterday, Kennedy weaponized the word to accuse leading global vaccine organization Gavi of ignoring safety issues, backing out of a financial pledge made by the U.S. during the previous administration. Kennedy has cherry-picked studies claiming vaccines cause autism and offered little evidence to support the agency’s new direction. Scientific consensus is not on Kennedy’s side.

“In the face of demonstration that vaccines are the single most lifesaving technology for children, over half a century, he is asserting a position that the U.S. will not support vaccination,” said Dr. Atul Gawande, a global health leader with the Biden administration, following Kennedy’s remarks yesterday to Gavi. “This is utterly disastrous for children around the world and for public health.”

While Kennedy transforms the U.S. position on vaccines, he is also taking swipes at early science, plowing ahead with proposed cuts to the NIH. How does the industry feel about this clawback in research support? Today, we’re looking at the potential ripple effects on biopharma and what leaders expect in the fallout. We’re also exploring how the CDC panel newly molded by RFK Jr. has begun to embrace a stance that features vaccine skepticism.

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