### Trump and Allies Ramp Up Anti-Vaccine Rhetoric with Kennedy's Influence
In the final stretch of the presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump and his close associates have begun to push anti-vaccine messages, a stance often associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former independent presidential candidate and vaccine skeptic. Although vaccine misinformation has not been a central theme in Trump’s 2024 campaign so far, Kennedy’s growing influence and the significant role he might play in a potential Trump administration have come into focus.

At a recent event in Arizona with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Kennedy, Trump expressed his willingness to let Kennedy investigate pesticides and vaccines if he wins the presidency. "He can do anything he wants," Trump stated, giving Kennedy free rein over health-related issues.

During an interview on Joe Rogan's podcast, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance echoed skepticism about the Covid vaccine, saying his worst illness in the past 15 years came after getting vaccinated. Vance claimed he had Covid five times and described his post-vaccine sickness as the worst. Health experts note that vaccine side effects are typically minor and short-lived, while vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe Covid outcomes.

Kennedy, whose long-standing claims linking vaccines to autism have been thoroughly debunked, emphasized Trump’s promise of control over public health agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture if Trump is re-elected. Howard Lutnick, co-chair of the Trump-Vance transition team, did not refute Kennedy’s statement and expressed support for his vaccine skepticism in a CNN interview.

Though Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt mentioned no formal decisions have been made regarding positions in a potential administration, she affirmed that Trump plans to collaborate with voices like Kennedy to address public health issues. The campaign is focused on winning on November 5th, but they have confirmed that Kennedy will play an important role in a future Trump administration.

Even as Trump championed "Operation Warp Speed" to expedite Covid vaccine distribution during his presidency, there are discussions within his campaign about Kennedy possibly leading a similar initiative focused on childhood chronic diseases. Kennedy clarified at a recent event that Trump does not intend to eliminate vaccines but wants to scrutinize them closely.