The LuLac Edition #5, 359, June 18th, 2025

 

WRITE ON

WEDNESDAY

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo.

This week we share a letter on RFK Junior’s horrible ignorance of public health and hatred of science.

RFK JR. VILIFIES SCIENTISTS

Editor: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent dismissal of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is both irresponsible and dangerous. ACIP, composed of independent experts in immunology, epidemiology and public health, plays a critical role in reviewing vaccine safety and efficacy to protect Americans from preventable diseases. To undermine their authority is to undermine decades of science-based public health policy that has saved countless lives.

Kennedy’s long history of promoting vaccine misinformation is well documented. By casting doubt on the legitimacy of ACIP, he is once again placing personal ideology above scientific consensus. This is especially troubling at a time when vaccine skepticism is rising and public trust in institutions is fragile. His rhetoric may appeal to a fringe base, but the consequences could be felt broadly, especially among children, the immunocompromised, and communities already vulnerable to health disparities.

ACIP operates with transparency, holding public meetings and disclosing conflicts of interest. Its recommendations are rooted in peer reviewed research, not political agendas. Kennedy’s suggestion that the committee is corrupt or untrustworthy is not only unfounded but actively harmful to public health.

Public figures have a responsibility to base their critiques on evidence. If Kennedy truly cares about the well being of Americans, he should stop vilifying scientists and start engaging with facts.

 

Mary Melinda Smith, Kingston,