Kennedy's Appointment of Anti-Vaccine Advocate Sparks Outrage

Vanderbilt researchers Jeremy Jacobs and Garrett Booth strongly criticized Kennedy's appointment of notorious anti-vaccine advocate David Geier to lead a federal study on immunizations and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Geier and his father have a history of promoting the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. The researchers argue this appointment compromises scientific integrity, erodes public trust, and platforms unreliable information, calling it a 'dangerous concession to pseudoscience.' They urge a defense of evidence-based medicine and call for public institutions and academic leaders to demonstrate courage and clarity in rejecting the normalization of misinformation and safeguarding public health.