Nearly 400 Experts, Faith Leaders Demand Senate Action To Thwart RFK Jr.’s “Systematic Assault” on Global Vaccination
Signers cite Kennedy’s lies, broken commitments, and abuse of office—and urge Senators to reject rescissions and stop the damage.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the day new global data reveal that childhood vaccine coverage has stalled and deadly disease outbreaks are accelerating, nearly 400 scientists, faith leaders, and health advocates are demanding that the U.S. Senate take action to stop what they call Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “systematic assault” on global immunization.
The call comes as the Senate prepares to vote on a sweeping rescissions package that would eliminate all FY25 U.S. funding for UNICEF and slash support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance—a move Kennedy and the Trump administration have championed.
“Children are dying not by fate, but because of political choices being made in Washington,” said Liza Barrie, Campaign Director for Global Vaccines Access at Public Citizen. “The world is losing ground on childhood vaccination. And instead of leading a recovery, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top health official, is attacking the very institutions that save lives and turning U.S. public health into a megaphone for anti-science lies. His Senate backers bear responsibility. They can stop this — starting with their vote on the rescissions.”
Since taking office, Kennedy has relentlessly targeted the foundation of U.S. and global immunization efforts. In June, he used recorded video remarks at the replenishment summit for Gavi to announce that the United States would no longer support the alliance—while repeating long-debunked conspiracy theories about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
The 2024 WUENIC report—released today by WHO and UNICEF—confirms that global immunization rates have stagnated for the third year in a row. More than 14 million children still missed routine vaccines in 2023, and measles outbreaks are surging in 60 countries. Since late 2023, Nigeria has reported nearly 25,000 diphtheria cases and 1,500 child deaths.
Against this backdrop, the letter urges senators to reject Kennedy’s vaccine disinformation and vote no on Trump’s rescissions bill—which would gut U.S. support for global immunization just as preventable deaths are rising.
The letter, organized by Public Citizen and Health GAP, was sent to all 52 Republican senators who voted to confirm Kennedy on February 13 in a 52–48 party-line vote. Signers include Global Health Council, Physicians for Human Rights, the Catholic Medical Mission Board, former CDC and USAID officials, and hundreds of public health and faith leaders around the country.
The letter outlines a pattern of dangerous, deliberate actions, including:
- Firing all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel and replacing them with ideological allies
- Promoting false claims about the HPV vaccine, from which he stands to profit through ongoing litigation
- Canceling support for vaccine hesitancy research and contracts for the development of mRNA vaccines for pandemic influenza
- Decimating HIV vaccine research by cutting federal funding, sabotaging decades of scientific progress and endangering efforts to end the HIV pandemic;
- Supporting efforts to dismantle USAID, which helped fund immunization efforts in over 70 countries
- Promoting repeatedly disproven claims that vaccines cause autism
- Supporting the defunding of Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO, all of which are essential to delivering lifesaving vaccines around the world
The signers warn that Kennedy’s actions—coupled with Senate complicity—are putting lives at risk. With disease outbreaks rising and immunization programs under attack, they urge senators to take immediate steps:
- Reject the Trump administration’s attempt to rescind FY25 vaccine funding for Gavi, and immediately reaffirm full U.S. support for global immunization programs— including UNICEF-led efforts to stop measles and polio outbreaks
- Launch a formal investigation into Secretary Kennedy’s misuse of office and misrepresentation of U.S. public health policy
- Use all available oversight and legislative tools to stop further harm, combat vaccine misinformation, and restore global confidence in U.S. health leadership
Background:
Since 2000, U.S. support for Gavi and global immunization efforts has helped vaccinate over a billion children and prevent nearly 19 million deaths. These programs represent one of the most impactful and bipartisan U.S. contributions to global health in modern history.
The 2024 WUENIC data confirm that progress has now stalled. Without bold action, millions more children will be left unprotected—and preventable deaths will rise.
Read the full letter here.