Texas public health officials are used to defending vaccinations and other proven treatments, but they are worried about even more challenges under President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet choices. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services Secretary, has raised concerns. Kennedy has spread false claims about vaccines causing autism, and his appointment is worrying health experts. Recently, Trump also named Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, adding to these concerns.
Terri Burke, leader of The Immunization Partnership, fears that under Kennedy’s leadership, agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC and the Food and Drug Administration FDA could lose funding. This could weaken vaccine guidelines for schools and fuel more misinformation, which is already a problem after the pandemic. She worries that this might harm innovation and vaccine development.
Kennedy’s plans as Health and Human Services Secretary are still unclear. He has said he won’t stop people from getting vaccines but has expressed doubts about vaccine safety research. He has suggested a plan to eliminate chronic diseases, but health experts worry about how his views might affect public health policies, especially school vaccine mandates.
Kennedy can’t ban vaccines, but he could influence how schools handle vaccination requirements. While the CDC provides vaccine recommendations, it’s up to states to follow them. Public health agencies’ recommendations are important, and changes could affect how vaccines are viewed.
In Texas, vaccine hesitancy isn’t new. Burke points out that some people in the state have long questioned vaccines. Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, notes that vaccine exemptions for religious or personal reasons are on the rise. The percentage of K-12 students with exemptions has increased from 1.35% in 2013 to 3.63% in 2023-2024.
Dr. Huang is concerned about how changes in federal health leadership could affect public health funding and trust. If leaders aren’t promoting accurate vaccine information, it could increase fear and influence policies that support misinformation.
Dr. Lane Aiena, a family doctor in Huntsville, Texas, believes healthcare professionals are key to fighting misinformation. Instead of just telling patients they need to get vaccinated, he encourages discussions to explain the importance of vaccines. He emphasizes that healthcare providers should focus on educating patients, not on political leadership.
Aiena also tries to stay focused on patient care, rather than who is in charge in Washington. He believes the views on vaccines will continue to change over time, but healthcare professionals must stay dedicated to providing the right information.