RFK Jr. to Headline Anti-Vaccine Conference Alongside Andrew Wakefield

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to give a keynote address at an anti-vaccine conference in Washington D.C. later this week. The event is organized by Children's Health Defense (CHD), an anti-vaccine organization he previously led. Kennedy will share the stage with other prominent figures in the anti-vaccine movement, including Andrew Wakefield, whose medical license was revoked after his fraudulent study falsely linked vaccines to autism.

Highlights

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will speak at an anti-vaccine conference hosted by his former group, Children's Health Defense.
• Disgraced former doctor Andrew Wakefield, known for his false claims about vaccines and autism, will also be a speaker.
• Kennedy had previously attempted to distance himself from his anti-vaccine views after becoming Health Secretary.
• In-person tickets for the conference were sold out at $250, with limited seating and livestream options still available.

Details

The Children's Health Defense (CHD) conference is promoted as a "pursuit of a more perfect future," aiming to discuss current risks and opportunities for the "health freedom movement." The sessions and talks are scheduled for September 17, preceded by an opening reception the night before.

Other speakers include Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, as well as Jan Jekielek from the Epoch Times and CHD CEO Mary Holland. Kennedy formally separated from CHD when he assumed his role as Health Secretary in early 2025, and had publicly claimed to be "pro-vaccine" during his confirmation hearing. However, his decision to headline this explicitly anti-vaccine event suggests a potential shift back to openly embracing his previous ideology.

Why it matters

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s participation as a keynote speaker at an anti-vaccine event, especially while serving as Health Secretary, raises significant concerns regarding public health policy and vaccine confidence. This move could potentially fuel the spread of misinformation about vaccines and create public confusion. The timing is particularly notable given reports that former President Trump has encouraged Kennedy to aggressively promote the false claim that vaccines cause autism, amplifying the event's importance in the ongoing debate.