Kennedy Appoints Controversial Researcher for Autism and Vaccine Study

David Geier, a researcher with a history of promoting discredited theories about vaccines and autism, has been hired as a senior data analyst at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the New York Times reports.

His appointment has raised concerns among public health experts, who worry that revisiting long-debunked claims could undermine vaccine confidence.

Geier has previously published research attempting to link mercury-containing preservatives in vaccines to autism. However, his work has been widely discredited, and multiple court rulings have deemed it unreliable. Additionally, Geier was found to have practiced medicine without a license alongside his father, Dr. Mark Geier, whose medical license was suspended in 2012 due to allegations of endangering children with autism.

The decision to bring Geier into HHS aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s long-standing skepticism about vaccine safety. Kennedy has previously promoted the theory that vaccines contribute to autism, despite overwhelming scientific consensus rejecting any such link. His appointment of Geier follows other policy shifts, including the cancellation of a long-standing vaccine safety meeting and reductions in research funding for vaccine hesitancy.

Public health officials have warned that re-examining this theory could erode public trust in vaccines and lead to lower immunization rates. Dr. Christopher Beyrer, director of the Duke Global Health Institute, cautioned that increased vaccine hesitancy could result in a rise in preventable disease outbreaks.

Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician and chairman of the Senate Health Committee, has expressed skepticism about using federal resources to revisit this topic. While Kennedy has defended the decision, arguing that further study is warranted, many experts believe it detracts from meaningful autism research.

With ongoing budget cuts at HHS and a reduction in staff, critics argue that resources should be directed toward studying the actual causes of autism rather than revisiting discredited claims.