The Science Won't Change, Even If RFK Jr. Is Confirmed Today

Disease Doesn't Care About Politics: Why This Matters to Every American Family

I didn't sleep last night. Like many of my colleagues across the medical and public health community, I spent the dark hours exchanging messages, sharing our fears and frustrations. The consensus is grim: despite the unprecedented outcry from scientists, physicians, and public health experts, RFK Jr. will likely be confirmed today as our next Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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The timing of this feels particularly poignant. For the past few days, I've been caring for my two children battling strep and flu. As I watched modern medicine help them recover, I couldn't help but think about what's at stake. The vaccines that undoubtedly lessened the severity of their flu represent exactly the kind of evidence-based medicine RFK Jr. has spent years fighting against. While he claims to support "medical freedom," his record shows a clear pattern of undermining public trust in our most important public health tools and institutions – the very systems that help keep our children safe and healthy.

Caroline Kennedy's searing letter to senators about her cousin struck at the heart of what makes this nomination so disturbing. She called him a "predator" who "preys on the desperation of parents of sick children." Her words cut deep because they contrast so sharply with what healthcare really represents. Our community – doctors, nurses, researchers, public health workers – we are healers, not predators. We dedicate our lives to protecting people, not exploiting their fears.

The hypocrisy is particularly striking: while Kennedy spreads dangerous misinformation about vaccines, his own children are vaccinated. While he positions himself as a champion against pharmaceutical interests, he personally profits from vaccine litigation, having collected $856,000 in referral fees just last year. He preaches populist messages while maintaining deep financial interests in the very systems he claims to fight.

Even more disturbing are his ventures into bigotry, having promoted dangerous conspiracy theories claiming COVID-19 was "ethnically targeted" to spare certain racial and ethnic groups - the kind of rhetoric that has historically fueled hatred and violence.

But no matter what happens today, certain truths remain immutable:

Vaccines are even more impactful than many realize - preventing an astounding 154 million deaths globally over the past 50 years, or about 6 lives saved every minute of every year. The children laughing in playgrounds today don't bear the scars of smallpox or struggle with polio because of vaccination science.

Fluoride will continue to be one of public health's greatest achievements, having dramatically reduced tooth decay and improved oral health for generations. The science behind this is as solid as ever.

Raw milk will remain dangerous, carrying serious risks from bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This is especially concerning now as H5N1 bird flu spreads in dairy cattle, adding another layer of risk to unpasteurized milk consumption.

HIV will continue to be the cause of AIDS, and the thousands of researchers and healthcare workers fighting this disease will keep working tirelessly to save lives, regardless of conspiracy theories.

What makes this moment particularly alarming is its timing. We face multiple emerging threats that demand experienced, science-based leadership: H5N1 bird flu showing concerning patterns of spread, mpox affecting new regions, and other infectious diseases looming on the horizon. We're still processing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic – this is no time for unqualified leadership.

As I write this, I think of Samoa's measles outbreak in 2019, where Kennedy's anti-vaccine influence contributed to an environment of mistrust that preceded the deaths of 83 people, mostly children. This isn't abstract policy – these are real lives at stake.

To my colleagues feeling despair: Remember that truth has a persistence that transcends any one person or position. The microbes don't care about politics. The vaccines don't stop working because someone doesn't believe in them. The evidence doesn't disappear.

We must stand firm. Not in anger, but in unwavering commitment to science, to evidence, and most importantly, to the people we serve. The patients in our hospitals, the communities we protect, the children we vaccinate – they need us now more than ever.

The cruel irony is that while Kennedy has built a following by positioning himself as an outsider fighting powerful interests, he represents exactly what he claims to oppose: a wealthy, privileged figure profiting from spreading fear while undermining public health. Yet the scientific truth remains unchanged by his rhetoric or his contradictions.

Whatever happens in Washington today, tomorrow we'll still be here. Still healing. Still protecting. Still saving lives.

With determination and hope,

Jess and The Unbiased Science Team

P.S. If you're feeling helpless, remember there are always ways to fight for science-based medicine. Share evidence-based resources. Support organizations that promote public health and combat misinformation. Fund research. Educate others. The work continues, and every voice and action matters. We are in this together.