By Josh Nathan-Kazis
Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic and harsh critic of federal health agencies, to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Trump announced the nomination in a post on Truth Social. "HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country," he wrote.
Kennedy, who Trump has indicated since late in his campaign would have a leading role overseeing public health, is an unorthodox pick to lead HHS.
The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among other agencies, all report to the HHS secretary.
The prospect of Kennedy leading HHS or a similar agency has cast major uncertainties over the health system in recent days.
Shares of vaccine makers are down since the election. Moderna, the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturer, dropped sharply in the final moments of trading on Thursday, as Politico reported that Kennedy will be tapped for the HHS job.
Moderna shares were down 5.6% Thursday, and shares of Novavax dropped 7%.
The implications, however, could go far beyond the vaccine industry.
Kennedy has promoted health-related conspiracy theories, including the discredited notion of a link between childhood vaccines and autism. Last year, the New York Post reported that he said there is "an argument" that the Covid virus is "ethnically targeted" and that the people "most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese."
The Senate will need to vote to approve Trump's nomination of Kennedy to the post.
Write to Josh Nathan-Kazis at josh.nathan-kazis@barrons.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 14, 2024 16:18 ET (21:18 GMT)
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