APHA and Protect Our Care Analysis highlight how RFK Jr’s health policies affect people of color

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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A joint analysis released by the American Public Health Association and Protect Our Care sheds light on how cuts to vital health programs and efforts to use disinformation to undermine the effectiveness of vaccines have disproportionately undermined the health of people of color. The review comes as the CDC now reports over 1,360 confirmed measles cases and 14 new outbreaks in 2026. The spread of the disease so far in 2026 is on track to eclipse last year's total, which was the highest since 1991.

“Trump’s health secretary RFK Jr. is making communities of color sicker by putting up even more barriers to access safe and effective vaccines while destroying health programs designed to fix health disparities,” said Kayla Hancock, Director of Protect Our Care’s Public Health Project. “Kennedy has abused his celebrity status and influence to baselessly stoke anti-vax fear and drive down vaccination rates even further, leaving already underserved communities even less prepared to deal with the massive uptick in preventable diseases like measles, flu and hepatitis B. RFK Jr. has put his widely discredited belief that Black people should have less protection from preventable disease into dangerous practice, and it’s costing a lot of people dearly in medical bills and their health.” 

“With an implicit and explicit bias against vaccines and complete disregard for science, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s impact on our nation’s health has been devastating since being sworn is as Secretary of Health and Human Services,” said APHA CEO Georges C. Benjamin, MD. “His misinformation and poorly conceived actions have created chaos, confusion and mistrust, which disproportionately harms the health of people of color and other underserved communities.”

You can read the full report here.

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The American Public Health Association champions optimal, equitable health and well-being for all. With our broad-based member community and 150-year perspective, we influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.