The first boats carrying Chinese goods with 145% tariffs are arriving in LA. They’re half-full. Expect shortages soon

@ArishMell I have posted about this extensively in the “Texas” topic.

Briefly, RFK Jr is totally unqualified to head HHS. When the measles outbreak in TX began he tried to downplay it. Pretty much like tRUMP said COVID would just go away.

Bobbie Kennedy Jr has spent at least a decade, probably longer, promoting a false narrative that vaccines cause autism. He was instrumental in an outbreak of measles in Samoa which caused some deaths.

When Kennedy switched his support to tRUMP during the election, tRUMP promised to make him his “go-to expert” in public health. Kennedy has no formal training in any field of medicine and is one of the top ten recognized spreaders of misinformation regarding communicable diseases and vaccines.

Kennedy promptly launched into his false narratives regarding vaccines and officially endorsed “chicken soup, cod liver oil, and vitamin A supplements” rather than the highly effective, safe, and readily available MMR vaccine.

Public outcry quickly forced Kennedy to back pedal, but he continued to say that the MMR vaccine was a personal choice.

Two children have subsequently died in the TX outbreak from complications of measles. Neither child had any pre existing medical conditions. An adult infected with measles has died in a neighboring state which is still “being investigated” as to whether the death was from measles complications or if that patient died “with” but not “from” measles. None of those who have died had received any doses of the MMR vaccine.

Now, let’s talk about hypervitaminosis A (vitamin A toxicity). If an individual is deficient in vitamin A and is susceptible to measles, replacement of vitamin A can reduce the severity of measles complications; however, it cannot prevent measles infection. Vitamin A deficiency, however, is almost unheard of in the US and is not routinely tested for. Overdosing of vitamin A however can lead to very serious complications. The list of complications is extensive, but some of the most worrisome are: liver failure, seizures, swelling of the brain, coma, and death.

Kennedy’s irresponsible promotion of vitamin A therapy over MMR vaccination has led to multiple patients, especially children, presenting at hospitals in TX with acute vitamin A toxicity. In Gaines County, more parents are seeking cod liver oil than MMR vaccine!

But does Kennedy learn anything from this? Just how dangerous his misinformation and conspiracy theories are? Hell no!

He begins touting two health care providers who claim “miraculous results” treating measles patients with a corticosteroid inhaler, an antibiotic, and dietary supplements. One of these —Dr. Ben Edwards—was actively treating susceptible people with this unproven and irrational therapy while he, himself, was actively infectious with the measles virus!

Now, two more significant items that further demonstrate just how incompetent and dangerous Kennedy is: while all of this was going on, Kennedy falsely claimed that the outbreak was subsiding (proving he has no understanding of the basic principles of Epidemiology) and he cut funding for vital
programs needed to combat communicable diseases wasting what funds remain on trying to prove his own pet conspiracy theories on vaccines causing autism—a long debunked falsehood he soundly endorses despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

@KunsanVeteran Thankyou for a very comprehensive explanation.

I did wonder if Kennedy had been suggesting uncontrolled doses of Vitamin A as a "cure" of measles.

Uncontrolled because this is by over-counter vitamin supplement. So people who genuinely don't know the hazard, could think if the normal supplementary dose has no effect on measles, they need take more of it....

He will be stopped only if the entire medical profession rise up and tell him publicly he is ignorant and dangerous - but they need also explain exactly why otherwise they risk being accused themselves of somehow "politicising" health.

Are there any Republicans in Congress with professional medical experience who can convince him, and perhaps even the President, that he is the wrong person for the role and that they have no confidence in him?

I wonder what his motives are, and why the President chose him for the post rather than anyone who might know a bit about medicine - or someone with the courage to admit being simply an administrator who needs the doctors to explain to him what they need and why.

@ArishMell Thank you for your thoughtful comments and response! I love informed dialogue and when we engage in it, we all grow and learn.

If you are so inclined, please look at my page and see my running commentary on the Texas measles outbreak and how it is being mismanaged by Kennedy. Please give feedback and comments!

You wisely point out the dangers of the unregulated marketing of supplements which are potentially harmful harmful (i.e. Cod liver oil) and the irresponsible hawking of such supplements by an unqualified individual such as Kennedy. His recommendations have been more harmful than beneficial and have consistently down played the obvious solution of the safe, readily available, remarkably effective MMR vaccine.

If MMR vaccine rates were up to the CDC time tested threshold, measles simply would not be a public health threat. Indeed, measles was considered “eradicated” in the USA in the year 2000 but has resurfaced as a public health threat due to vaccine waivers, misinformation, and falling below the needed immunity level in the population to break the chain of transmission.

This is but one of many ignorant and dangerous faux pas by Kennedy as I have previously discussed.

As always, I must end with my strongest recommendation that Kennedy must resign or be fired. And I can volunteer multiple candidates who are highly qualified to replace Kennedy.