Outbreaks Waiting to Happen: The Danger of RFK Jr.’s Health Policies

Digital illustration of a cracked medical shield with viruses seeping through, symbolizing America’s weakened public health defenses under RFK Jr.’s policies.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long positioned himself as a renegade voice in health policy, but now that he holds real influence, the cracks in his agenda are impossible to ignore. His policies don’t strengthen America’s health system—they undermine it. At a time when we’re dealing with resurgent measles, pandemic fatigue, and even a new Ebola outbreak abroad, weakening public health infrastructure is the last thing this country can afford.

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1. Vaccine Trust Turned Upside Down

One of Kennedy’s first moves was dismantling the CDC’s vaccine advisory structures. These panels traditionally included top scientists and public health experts who reviewed data before making recommendations. Kennedy replaced them with figures linked to anti-vaccine activism, people more interested in ideology than evidence.

When trusted experts are sidelined, the public begins to doubt the very foundation of vaccine policy. Herd immunity only works when confidence is strong enough to keep vaccination rates high. Kennedy’s reshuffling accelerates the erosion of that confidence, and once trust is gone, it’s hard to rebuild.

The Times – RFK Jr faces bipartisan fire at Senate hearing on chaos at CDC

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2. Cutting Off Access to Vaccines

Confidence matters, but so does the ability to get vaccinated in the first place. Under Kennedy’s leadership, lawmakers have accused HHS of deliberately restricting access. Senator Bill Cassidy, who is also a physician, testified that some Americans were effectively denied COVID-19 shots because of bureaucratic barriers and redirected supply.

During a pandemic, blocking or slowing vaccine distribution is sabotage. Vaccines help keep ICUs from overflowing, protect frontline workers, and safeguard people with underlying health conditions. By disrupting access, Kennedy increased the risk of preventable illness and death.

NY Post – GOP Sen. Cassidy accuses RFK Jr. of denying people vaccines

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3. Fueling Outbreaks With Misinformation

The U.S. is in the middle of its worst measles outbreak since 1992. Rather than organizing an emergency vaccination drive, Kennedy leaned into misinformation. He promoted cod liver oil as an alternative to the MMR vaccine—a claim with no scientific basis and no ability to stop measles from spreading.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known. Without mass vaccination, one case can ignite chains of infection that race through schools and communities. Kennedy’s embrace of unproven remedies creates confusion, delays the real response, and costs lives.

The Atlantic – RFK Jr.’s Victory Lap Amid Measles Crisis

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4. Public Health Infrastructure Eroding From the Inside

No health system can function without experienced people to run it. More than 1,000 current and former CDC and HHS employees have called for Kennedy’s resignation, and many career scientists have already left.

That kind of decimation has consequences. Expertise in outbreak modeling, vaccine rollout, and disease surveillance doesn’t grow overnight. If these institutions are hollowed out, the U.S. won’t have the capacity to mount a strong defense when the next crisis hits.

Daily Beast – RFK Jr. hit by mass HHS revolt demanding his resignation

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5. “Make America Healthy Again”: Slogans Over Science

Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative dresses itself in the language of empowerment and freedom. But behind the slogan, the platform promotes raw milk, fad detoxes, and anti-vaccine talking points. There’s no science involved, only marketing.

The real danger lies in substitution. When people believe that supplements, special diets, or lifestyle hacks can replace vaccines, they disengage from proven medical guidance. That shift weakens herd immunity and leaves entire communities exposed to preventable disease.

Wikipedia – Make America Healthy Again

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6. Ebola in Congo—and the Nightmare Scenario for the U.S.

Electron micrograph of the Ebola virus showing its long, threadlike shape against a red background. — *A colorized transmission electron micrograph of the Ebola virus. The filamentous structure makes Ebola one of the most easily recognizable—and deadly—pathogens*

Current Outbreak in Congo

On September 4, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo declared its 16th Ebola outbreak, centered in Kasai Province. So far there have been 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including healthcare workers. Ebola kills up to half the people it infects, and rapid containment is the only way to stop it. Congo is deploying the Ervebo vaccine and ring vaccination strategies in an effort to get ahead of the outbreak.

AP News – Congo confirms Ebola outbreak

Why the U.S. Should Care

Ebola doesn’t stop at borders. In 2014, the West Africa epidemic reached the United States, sparking fear and forcing hospitals to scramble. With global air travel denser than ever, an outbreak in central Africa can show up in an American city within hours.

PMC – Ebola outbreak risks and U.S. implications

How RFK Jr.’s Policies Make It Worse

Weakened Vaccine Systems: Containment strategies depend on fast ring vaccination. Undermining vaccine infrastructure makes that harder to execute.
Public Mistrust: Ebola response relies on public compliance with quarantine and vaccination orders. Kennedy’s rhetoric seeds distrust, making people less likely to follow lifesaving protocols.
Expert Exodus: With scientists leaving HHS and CDC, outbreak response slows down and coordination falters. In a fast-moving outbreak, that delay is deadly.
Global Retreat: U.S. programs like USAID help catch outbreaks early. Guess which program was one of the first to be defunded by DOGE? As a result of those cuts, America has basically lost its early-warning system. Wired – USAID cuts slowed outbreak response

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The Wrap

Public health is a shield—built slowly over decades—that protects against both familiar threats like measles and unpredictable ones like Ebola. RFK Jr.’s policies are chipping away at that shield. By undermining trust, cutting off access, promoting misinformation, and driving out experts, he leaves America weaker and more exposed. What he frames as “health freedom” could instead mean outbreaks we can’t contain and lives lost that never should have been at risk.

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