In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread. Examples include measles, COVID, flu, and polio.
A number of posts discussed Trump's support for the discredited notion.
Another leading anti-vaxxer is presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. He has repeatedly compared vaccine mandates to the Holocaust. Rolling Stone and Salon retracted an RFK article linking vaccines to autism. He is part of the "Disinformation Dozen."
In an email obtained by POLITICO, Kennedy ally Kim Haine reached out to a prospective candidate to set up an interview for a top HHS job, identifying herself as part of the “[Make America Healthy Again] transition team.” Haine is the president of the Hawaii chapter of Children’s Health Defense, a leading anti-vaccine group that Kennedy chaired until he resigned in 2023 to run for president. She also led the effort to get Kennedy on the Hawaii ballot earlier this year.
“Our transition team would like to gauge your interest in helping advance our MAHA initiatives,” she wrote to one candidate.
Haine did not respond to questions about her role.
The team that Kennedy is relying on to help vet resumes for incoming HHS staff, conduct interviews and offer advice also includes Del Bigtree, a prominent anti-vaccine figure who runs the nonprofit Informed Consent Action Network.
And Aaron Siri, a vaccine injury attorney whose law firm has done millions of dollars of legal work for Bigtree’s ICAN, has been deeply involved in the vetting process as well, according to three people familiar with the matter. Siri specialized in challenging Covid vaccine mandates at schools and workplaces during the pandemic, and has also served as Kennedy’s personal attorney.
