RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — On Thursday, over 400 doctors across North Carolina are urged Sen. Thom Tillis to not confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Tillis serves on the Senate Finance Committee and would be part of Kennedy’s confirmation.
The full list of doctors is not being released because of privacy concerns, but some held a meeting on Thursday outlining their strong concerns. Dr. Rachel Brown is among the doctors who signed a letter to Tillis with their worries.
“RFK Jr. is bad medicine for America’s health and the Senate must reject his nomination,” Brown said.
“RFK Jr. advocates the use of raw milk,” she said. “This unpasteurized product puts people at risk for food borne illness and may also put them at risk for bird flu.”
Dr. Samantha Breen said, “RFK Jr. has zero real experience in any area of the medical field.”
Said Dr. Frank Spence, “RFK is a leading anti-vaccine activist who has spent years spreading false claims about vaccine safety.”
The doctors pointed out a number of preventable diseases they’re concerned would make a comeback if Kennedy leads the department. They’re urging Tillis to do what they say is best to protect America’s health by voting against the confirmation.
“If RFK Jr. becomes DHHS Secretary, we fear vaccination rates would plummet even further, leading to a resurgence in preventable diseases like measles and polio,” Spence said.
Said Breen, “We should be focusing on increasing healthcare access and improving outcomes of our diverse North Carolina community, but Mr. Kennedy could take us back to times when diseases like polio ran rampant.”
