{"id":4005,"date":"2025-08-20T17:45:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/?p=4005"},"modified":"2025-08-20T17:45:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:45:13","slug":"rfk-jr-vaccine-policy-trust-global-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/2025\/08\/20\/rfk-jr-vaccine-policy-trust-global-health\/","title":{"rendered":"How RFK Jr is systematically undermining vaccines around the world"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; next_background_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_module=&#8221;322&#8243;][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=&#8221;322&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; menu_id=&#8221;7&#8243; submenu_direction=&#8221;downwards&#8221; fullwidth_menu=&#8221;off&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; module_class=&#8221;main-navigation&#8221; \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; specialty=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_background_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; next_background_color=&#8221;#1d1d1d&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; specialty_columns=&#8221;2&#8243;][et_pb_row_inner locked=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_column_inner type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; saved_specialty_column_type=&#8221;2_3&#8243;][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; title=&#8221;on&#8221; meta=&#8221;on&#8221; author=&#8221;on&#8221; date=&#8221;on&#8221; categories=&#8221;on&#8221; comments=&#8221;on&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;on&#8221; featured_placement=&#8221;above&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_background=&#8221;off&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;3.17.6&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Vaccines have long been one of the most effective tools for protecting global health. But today, that trust is being tested.<\/p>\n<p>The Becker&#8217;s Deputy <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/research\/eco-immunology-and-context-specific-immunology\/\">Eco-immunology<\/a> Branch Lead <a href=\"https:\/\/research.manchester.ac.uk\/en\/persons\/sheena.cruickshank\">Professor Sheena Cruickshank<\/a> and Professor Christina Pagel from University College London have a joint piece in <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-rfk-jr-is-systematically-undermining-vaccines-around-the-world-262854\">The Conversation\u00a0<\/a>which highlights how recent decisions by RFK Jr around vaccine policy and messaging are raising concerns among public health experts.<\/p>\n<p>These changes include shifting the makeup of advisory panels and cutting funding for vaccine research\u2014moves that could weaken preparedness for future outbreaks and affect public confidence worldwide.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>In just a few months as health secretary, Kennedy has reshaped vaccine policy and public trust in the US. He has repeatedly claimed that the scientific and medical establishment is corrupt and that consensus cannot be trusted. This rhetoric is especially dangerous at a time when vaccine uptake is already low and falling.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Read the full article <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-rfk-jr-is-systematically-undermining-vaccines-around-the-world-262854\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; in_same_term=&#8221;off&#8221; show_prev=&#8221;on&#8221; show_next=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_text=&#8221;Previous&#8221; next_text=&#8221;Next&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; show_avatar=&#8221;on&#8221; show_reply=&#8221;on&#8221; show_count=&#8221;on&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;51&#8243; header_line_height_tablet=&#8221;2&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_icon_placement=&#8221;right&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; button_use_icon=&#8221;off&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; \/][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Related posts&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>Related<\/h1>\n<!-- relpost-thumb-wrapper --><div class=\"relpost-thumb-wrapper\"><!-- filter-class --><div class=\"relpost-thumb-container\"><h3>Related posts:<\/h3><div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div><div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div><!-- relpost-block-container --><div class=\"relpost-block-container relpost-block-column-layout\" style=\"--relposth-columns: 3;--relposth-columns_t: 2; --relposth-columns_m: 2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/2020\/06\/18\/covid-19-antibodies\/\"class=\"relpost-block-single\" ><div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\"><div class=\"relpost-block-single-image rpt-lazyload\" aria-label=\"A graphic representation of coronavirus.\" role=\"img\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/2021\/02\/covid-150x150.jpg\" style=\"background: transparent no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px; aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\"><\/div><div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\"  style=\"height: 75px;font-family: Arial;  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\"><h2 class=\"relpost_card_title\">COVID-19 Antibodies.<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/2020\/06\/19\/having-had-a-common-cold-can-help-fight-covid-19\/\"class=\"relpost-block-single\" ><div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\"><div class=\"relpost-block-single-image rpt-lazyload\" aria-label=\"Coloured face masks hanging from pegs.\" role=\"img\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/2021\/02\/face-masks-150x150.jpg\" style=\"background: transparent no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px; aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\"><\/div><div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\"  style=\"height: 75px;font-family: Arial;  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\"><h2 class=\"relpost_card_title\">Having had a common cold can help fight COVID-19.<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/2021\/01\/19\/covid-vaccine\/\"class=\"relpost-block-single\" ><div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\"><div class=\"relpost-block-single-image rpt-lazyload\" aria-label=\"A nurse prepares to give a COVID-19 vaccination.\" role=\"img\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/2021\/02\/covid-vaccine-150x150.jpg\" style=\"background: transparent no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; 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But today, that trust is being tested.The Becker&#8217;s Deputy Eco-immunology Branch Lead Professor Sheena Cruickshank and Professor Christina Pagel from University College London have a joint piece in The Conversation\u00a0which highlights how recent decisions by RFK Jr around vaccine policy and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5220,"featured_media":3548,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[151,69,150,72],"class_list":["post-4005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-rfk-jr","tag-sheena-cruickshank","tag-the-conversation","tag-vaccination"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5220"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4005"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4006,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005\/revisions\/4006"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/lydia-becker-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}