Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has drawn intense criticism—much of it deserved—for his stance on vaccines. But lost in the uproar is a surprising fact: many of his ideas for improving American health align with mainstream medical thinking. 

As a medical school professor and former senior official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I understand the dangers of vaccine misinformation. Yet I’ve also watched Kennedy be vilified for promoting views long embraced by public health professionals. This raises a legitimate question: are his ideas the real problem—or is it the messenger? 

Last week, officials appointed by Kennedy to lead the FDA called for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new vaccines. Critics were quick to label the proposal unethical, dangerous, or anti-science. But demanding rigorous evidence is the foundation of science, not a betrayal of it. 

Take COVID-19 vaccines. Five years into the pandemic, only 23% of U.S. adults have received the latest booster, despite strong government recommendations. One reason may be growing public skepticism about the strength of the supporting evidence. Pew surveys show that 60% of Americans plan to skip the 2024–2025 shot. That skepticism isn’t entirely baseless. Over 83% of healthcare workers declined the 2023-2024 COVID booster.