Contact:
Sara Viglione
Center for Global Development
[email protected]
In response to the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Javier Guzman, director of global health policy and senior policy fellow at the Center for Global Development, comments:
“The confirmation of Kennedy as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services comes at a pivotal moment in global health. Over the past decades, the world has made remarkable progress in reducing childhood mortality, largely thanks to the deployment of vaccines against common infectious diseases. Secretary Kennedy should uphold this legacy by ensuring that the U.S. continues to support immunization efforts worldwide, especially in poorer countries where vaccines are a lifeline for children.”
“Diseases don’t respect borders and the administration has a vested interest in stopping them before they reach U.S. shores. The role of federal agencies—including the FDA and CDC is instrumental in advancing regional and global efforts to prevent and respond to health threats—be it dengue in the Americas, Marburg in Africa, or the growing burden of non-communicable diseases worldwide. Global health security hinges on strong partnerships, scientific collaboration, and a coordinated response. Secretary Kennedy should prioritize these efforts to reinforce the U.S’s role as a leader in global health and protect decades of progress which have seen improved health outcomes for millions around the world.”
