Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. health secretary, has blamed former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci for the way the Covid-19 pandemic was handled in the United States.
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In an interview with CNN, Kennedy also revived several controversial claims about vaccines, measles and the RSV virus that are disputed by the scientific community.
His remarks came just days after Fauci testified before Congress. During the hearing, the former official invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times and declined to answer questions that could incriminate him. His role during the pandemic was sharply criticized by Republicans.
Defending President Donald Trump, Kennedy said Trump had wanted to end the lockdowns and was not responsible for them.
“Trump wanted to end the lockdowns. I think the lockdowns caused the greatest harm to our country,” he said.
Experts, however, note that most restrictions were adopted by state and local authorities at a time when hospitals and intensive care units were overwhelmed by the number of patients.
Kennedy’s remarks prompted an immediate response from Ashish Jha, the former Covid-19 response coordinator in Joe Biden’s administration.
Jha argued that policy decisions are the responsibility of political leaders, not scientists whose job is to provide advice. He added that many of Kennedy’s claims about vaccines are inconsistent with the facts.
Speaking about measles, Kennedy said the communities most affected are primarily religious groups that refuse vaccination. He also insisted that he has never questioned the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine.
However, Kennedy has faced criticism over previous statements in which he suggested that protection provided by the vaccine may weaken over time and, as a result, contribute to the spread of measles.
According to health experts, receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine provides about 97% protection against measles. They emphasize that outbreaks occur primarily in communities with low vaccination rates.
In the same interview, Kennedy linked RSV to “gain-of-function” laboratory experiments. This claim is not supported by scientific evidence, while RSV was identified in the late 1950s, long before such experiments were developed.
Another of his claims was that dozens of studies link paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism. Some research has raised hypotheses about a possible link, but scientists stress that a cause-and-effect relationship has not been proven. Major medical organizations continue to recommend paracetamol during pregnancy when its use is necessary.
Kennedy also questioned the benefits of Covid-19 vaccines for children, calling for evidence that they “have done more good than harm.”
World Health Organization data show that more than 700 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in the U.S. Meanwhile, studies estimate that vaccination saved approximately 2.5 million lives worldwide during the 2020-2024 period.
Research has also found a significant reduction in the risk of infection, hospitalization and complications, including among children, while cases of severe side effects have been rare.
