A Senate hearing on vaccines

In September 2025, political economist Toby Rogers told senators that vaccines cause autism and chronic disease. Stanford infectious disease expert Jake Scott countered with evidence of vaccine safety.

Rogers presents to the CDC

Months later, Rogers told a CDC committee that hepatitis B vaccines killed 643 children. He cited unverified reports the CDC warns may be incomplete or inaccurate.

“Hepatitis B vaccines have killed an astonishing number of children in the U.S. over the last 35 years”

Platforming vaccine skeptics escalates

Rogers has no medical background and his only peer-reviewed paper was retracted for misrepresenting data. His repeated invitations to Washington signal a new administration strategy.

Political pressure shifts tactics

After February polling showed most Americans opposed RFK Jr.'s vaccine changes, the White House told him to quiet down before midterms. He shifted to more subtle approaches.

“go[t] the word to shut up because of the election”

Trump's August executive order

In early August, Trump signed an order rescinding universal vaccine recommendations, breaking up combined shots, and encouraging states to drop school vaccine requirements.

“Countless parents have had their questions and concerns about America's childhood vaccine schedule ignored if not outright mocked”

A federal judge blocks changes

In March, a judge halted RFK Jr.'s proposed cuts to the childhood vaccine schedule. Nine days later, a Children's Health Defense affiliate appealed the ruling.

The backdoor strategy emerges

Legal hurdles have led RFK Jr. to consider other tactics to implement his anti-vaccine agenda. Experts call it a backdoor approach.

The 1980s vaccine crisis

After a 1982 documentary blamed vaccines for injuries, hundreds of lawsuits threatened to put vaccine makers out of business. Vaccines risked becoming unaffordable or unavailable.

Reagan creates injury fund

In 1986, Reagan passed a law creating the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. It established limited liability for manufacturers and a fund to reimburse proven side effects.

Bankrupting the compensation fund

If the reimbursement fund runs out of money, vaccine makers will exit the market like they did in the 1970s and 80s. That appears to be RFK Jr.'s goal.

“If you could bankrupt the compensation fund, we know historically from the '70s and '80s that [vaccine makers] will get out of the market”

Expanding covered conditions

Conditions like autism don't currently qualify for compensation. But if they're declared proven side effects, more lawsuits could drain the fund.

Purging expert committees

RFK Jr. tried to replace CDC vaccine committees with his own appointees, many with anti-vaccine histories. A judge reversed the changes, calling them an abandonment of expertise.

“undermined the integrity”

Rewriting committee charters

Lawyer Aaron Siri proposed changing the CDC committee's mission to focus on vaccine harm and include advocates for the injured, not just technical experts.

Creating new committees

RFK Jr. created an Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee with hand-picked members linking vaccines to autism. Their consensus documents could bypass traditional scientific evidence.

“It's under RFK Jr., and under RFK Jr., data are irrelevant”

Rogers calls for abolition

In May, Rogers called on Trump to permanently end the CDC vaccine schedule and urged parents to fire mainstream pediatricians for providers who don't vaccinate.

“I have become a vaccine abolitionist”

Financial conflicts of interest

RFK Jr. made millions through law firms suing vaccine makers and said he'd keep collecting fees from a Merck lawsuit. Siri has nearly 500 pending injury cases.

Lawmakers see enrichment scheme

Senator Angela Alsobrooks says RFK Jr.'s actions show potential conflicts of interest. His overhaul may aim to enrich his family, former colleagues, and anti-vaccine allies.

“His allegiance to overhauling HHS, including VICP, may not just reflect his own quackery, but an attempt to further enrich his family”

Creating market uncertainty

Even if legal challenges fail, years of cascading cases could create enough uncertainty to push more drug companies to stop producing vaccines in the United States.