In May, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as HHS Secretary, rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination recommendation for healthy children and pregnant women, which he announced on the social network X along with NIH Director Jay Bhattachary and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.[1][2] He signed the relevant directive on May 19, but did not provide new evidence or explain the circumvention of standard procedure.[1] In November, he ordered the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism without providing new evidence.[2] Earlier this year, the CDC reduced the number of vaccines recommended for each child, weakening protection against six diseases.[2] Kennedy promised to restore trust in health agencies through transparency, but polls show declining trust.[2] It emphasizes fighting chronic diseases, which account for 92% of deaths in the US, instead of infectious diseases.[3] He stated that he is not against vaccines, but in favor of their safety and the support of quality science.[3]