Shares of vaccine manufacturers, including Pfizer Inc. and Moderna, dropped by as much as 2% in after-hours trading following the announcement of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy has faced criticism for spreading misinformation, including unfounded claims linking vaccines to autism. He has also opposed various state and federal COVID-19 restrictions, contributing to allegations of promoting false information about the virus. While he rejects the label of being anti-vaccine, advocating for more rigorous testing instead, he has chaired the Children’s Health Defense, a group known for its anti-vaccine stance.

In a March interview, while still a presidential candidate, Kennedy stated that Americans would still have access to vaccines for themselves and their children if he were elected, although he expressed doubts about the effectiveness of measles vaccines.

Measles is highly contagious and nearly preventable through vaccination, requiring a coverage rate of 95% to avert outbreaks. Recent data from the CDC indicates that vaccination rates among young children in the U.S. have fallen below this threshold.

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Vaccines have been credited with saving over 154 million lives in the 20th century, equivalent to six lives saved every minute for the past 50 years, according to infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota. He emphasized that immunization remains the most significant health intervention in ensuring that infants not only survive their first year but also lead healthy lives into adulthood.