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The Kennedy Era At HHS Begins … With Two Vaccine Approvals

 
• By Michael McCaughan

With timing that is purely coincidental, but supremely ironic, the US FDA approved two new vaccines on 14 February, the second day of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure on the job.

Within the span of one vaccine review cycle, Kennedy went from fringe presidential candidate to HHS Secretary. (Shutterstock)
Key Takeaways
  • Whether a coincidence or not, the FDA approved two vaccines the day after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has many anti-vaccine views, took office.
  • Even if Kennedy objected to the approvals, Kennedy would have had to make very quick work to block the approvals.
  • Two non-vaccine approval announcements the same day also could align with Kennedy’s agenda.

Who would have guessed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr

People following the FDA’s user fee goals probably could have guessed, given that both GlaxoSmithKline and Bavarian Nordic had vaccine applications pending with 14 February action dates. Still, it is a remarkable, if not entirely apt, coincidence that GSK’s pentavalent meningococcal vaccine Penmenvy and Bavarian Nordic’s Vimkunya chikungunya vaccine

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