RFK Jr. Ordered CDC to Halt Flu Vaccine Ads as 16,000 Deaths Mounted
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 25
RFK Jr. Ordered CDC to Halt Flu Vaccine Ads as 16,000 Deaths Mounted
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 25
Summary
Less than 24 hours after taking office on Feb. 14, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the CDC to pull advertising that promoted flu shots, according to internal emails obtained by The New York Times.
That order landed during a severe flu season: the CDC reported 29 million cases, 370,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths that day, including 68 children overall and 11 pediatric deaths that week.
Nicole Coffin, a CDC communications official, wrote that HHS wanted all flu- and vaccine-related ad buys removed from social media, online and print, with bus-stop and bench ads to follow.
Kevin Griffis warned acting CDC Director Susan Monarez that stopping the campaign mid-outbreak posed significant reputational risk to the agency and could also create legal issues.
The email cache offers an early window into how CDC leaders were jolted by Kennedy's agenda and the broader Trump administration transition at the nation's top public health agency.
With its vaccine panel legally sidelined, how will the CDC guide national immunization policy against emerging health threats?
A court found the CDC acted 'arbitrarily.' What precedent does this set for administrative oversight of scientific agencies?
As the U.S. withholds funds from the Vaccine Alliance, what are the cascading effects on global child mortality rates?
CDC Restructuring, Vaccine Policy Shifts, and Public Trust Collapse: The Impact of RFK Jr.'s 2025–2026 Overhaul on U.S. Public Health
Overview
In early 2025, during a severe flu season, HHS Secretary RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to halt its 'Wild to Mild' flu vaccine campaign, which had launched in 2023 to highlight how vaccination protects against severe illness, especially for high-risk groups like children and pregnant individuals. This decision reflected RFK Jr.'s push to shift CDC messaging toward 'informed consent,' focusing on both vaccine risks and benefits, as outlined in his earlier vaccine safety plan. The abrupt change in strategy raised concerns about public understanding and vaccine uptake during a critical time for flu prevention.