WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Sep 6) stood by Well being Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr regardless of mounting stress from Congress and public well being issues over sweeping modifications to the nation’s vaccine coverage.
Since taking workplace, Kennedy has slashed funding for vaccine analysis, restricted entry to COVID-19 photographs and eliminated the top of the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). Public well being specialists warn the strikes may carry dire penalties, and probably political dangers for Trump if vaccination charges fall and outbreaks happen.
TRUMP’S SUPPORT
Trump has up to now defended Kennedy, telling reporters on Thursday: “He’s an excellent particular person … he means nicely, and he’s received some little totally different concepts. I like the truth that he’s totally different.”
A White Home official mentioned Trump and Kennedy communicate usually, although the president “doesn’t really feel as strongly as Bobby on a few of these key points” however trusts his judgment.
Trump tapped Kennedy for the job after the “Make America Wholesome Once more” motion backed his 2024 marketing campaign. Kennedy, who briefly ran for president as a Democrat and impartial, dropped out to endorse Trump.
COMPLICATED VIEWS
Trump’s stance on vaccines stays combined. He has claimed credit score for Operation Warp Pace, the programme that fast-tracked COVID-19 vaccine growth, however has been reluctant to champion the photographs given scepticism amongst his base.
“Some vaccines are wonderful. The polio vaccine, I occur to assume is wonderful,” Trump mentioned Friday. However he added: “It’s a must to be very cautious while you say some individuals don’t must be vaccinated. It’s a really robust place.”
Polling exhibits 75 per cent of Democrats contemplate vaccines for ailments like measles and rubella “very protected” for youngsters, in contrast with simply 41 per cent of Republicans.
