Overview

• Peter Marks, head of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, predicts increased scrutiny of vaccine development and safety under the incoming Trump administration.
• President-elect Donald Trump has nominated vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, raising concerns among public health officials and vaccine advocates.
• Marks views the nomination as an opportunity to educate the public on the life-saving benefits of vaccines but warns of severe consequences if vaccination rates decline significantly.
• Public health experts fear a resurgence of preventable diseases like measles and polio if vaccine hesitancy grows due to misinformation and skepticism.
• Marks calls for transparent communication and a fact-based approach to counter vaccine misinformation, while expressing hope for moderation in upcoming vaccine debates.