There has never been a more disorienting time to be an American parent trying to protect their child’s health.
The information landscape is flooded with social media influencers stoking mistrust in basic medical safeguards — like vaccines, pasteurization and vitamin K shots for newborns — while promoting dangerous trends as alternative medicine. In stunning ways, U.S. health policy and politics are diverging from established scientific standards, led by a Health and Human Services secretary who has long seeded doubts about vaccinations and who champions unpasteurized milk.
The consequences are already unfolding: measles cases reaching highs not seen in 35 years. Infants bleeding to death after their parents rejected a single preventative shot. Outbreaks of E. coli in raw milk leaving children with permanent kidney damage. It could get worse. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine agenda risks a resurgence of deadly childhood diseases.
In this session, ProPublica deputy Midwest editor Steve Mills will lead a discussion with ProPublica investigative reporters to uncover how these changing federal priorities impact children. Submit your question below when you RSVP.
The health department did not respond to ProPublica’s questions about Kennedy’s stance on unpasteurized milk or the vitamin K shot, but said vitamin K at birth remains the standard of care. A department spokesperson said vaccine mandates contributed to a loss of trust in health institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic and that Kennedy believes in rebuilding trust through honesty, transparency and respect for individual choice.
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