NYC health boss rips RFK Jr. for cutting back on childhood vaccinations, warns of ‘deadly consequences’

New York City’s public health chief has strongly criticized Robert Kennedy Jr.’s decision to reduce the number of vaccinations recommended for children, warning that the move could have deadly consequences.

“RFK Jr.’s revised childhood vaccination schedule will have deadly consequences,” said acting city Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse on Tuesday.

As of Monday, the RFK-led Centers for Disease Control (CDC) no longer recommends childhood vaccinations for six illnesses: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, rotavirus, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). However, the CDC continues to recommend vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, whooping cough, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV), and chickenpox.

“Yesterday’s announcement weakening the childhood vaccination schedule puts the health and well-being of children and their families at risk,” Dr. Morse stated. “As a public servant and medical professional, I will not stay silent. The NYC Health Department remains committed to our mission of protecting the health and safety of all New Yorkers.”

The Trump administration justified the changes as an effort to align U.S. vaccination guidelines with those of other countries that recommend fewer childhood vaccinations. However, Dr. Morse pointed out that no new scientific evidence supported this decision.

She further noted that major countries—including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and Spain—maintain childhood vaccination schedules similar to the pre-existing U.S. recommendations.

Previously, the CDC estimated that vaccinating children born between 1994 and 2023 would prevent 508 million illnesses, save more than 1.1 million lives, and avoid nearly $2.7 trillion in societal costs, according to the commissioner.

The NYC Health Department continues to advise that children receive all vaccines previously recommended by the CDC. “Parents and caregivers should speak to their pediatrician if they have questions about vaccination recommendations. Health care providers in New York City should continue to follow the existing recommendations,” Dr. Morse urged.

Similarly, the New York State Health Department has recommended that pediatricians and parents adhere to the pre-Kennedy vaccine schedule for children.

“Despite changes announced at the federal level, New York State’s long-standing childhood vaccine requirements remain the same,” said state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “There was no new science, safety data or discovery presented by the federal government. New Yorkers can continue to be confident that vaccines offer the best protection from preventable childhood diseases.”

President Trump and Robert Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services who oversees the CDC, defended the relaxed vaccine requirements as medically sound.

“This Schedule is rooted in the Gold Standard of Science, and widely agreed upon by Scientists and Experts all over the World,” Trump insisted Monday on Truth Social.

The president emphasized that parents retain the choice to have their children receive all prior recommended vaccinations.

“Parents can still choose to give their children all of the Vaccinations, if they wish, and they will still be covered by insurance,” Trump said. “However, this updated Schedule finally aligns the United States with other Developed Nations around the World. Many Americans, especially the ‘MAHA [Make America Healthy Again] Moms,’ have been praying for these COMMON SENSE reforms for many years.”

Robert Kennedy Jr. stated, “After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent. This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health.”

The CDC’s Trump-ordered assessments concluded that the U.S. was a “global outlier” in the number of childhood vaccinations recommended compared to other developed countries.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/06/us-news/nyc-health-boss-rips-rfk-jr-for-cutting-back-on-childhood-vaccinations/

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