MAHA Institute Advocates for Elimination of Childhood Vaccination Schedule
Leaders of the MAHA Institute, a think tank associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have publicly called for the elimination of the childhood vaccination schedule and the removal of all vaccines from the market. These statements were made during a panel discussion on "Massive Epidemic of Vaccine Injury" held in Washington, D.C.
The MAHA Institute, associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has publicly advocated for the elimination of the childhood vaccination schedule and the removal of all vaccines from the market.
Key Statements and Claims
Mark Gorton, president of the MAHA Institute, stated on Monday that the childhood vaccination schedule should be eliminated and all vaccines removed from the market until their safety and effectiveness can be proven.
Del Bigtree, Kennedy’s former communications manager, claimed at the event that vaccines cause autism and that measles infection reduces the risk of cancer.
Experts dispute these claims. Scientific studies have not established a link between vaccinations and autism, despite increased autism rates attributed to various factors including environmental exposures and improved diagnostic criteria.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the measles vaccine is safe and effective, having been introduced in 1963 and preceding a significant reduction in annual measles deaths in the U.S.
Political Context and Institute's Stance
The event occurred as the MAHA movement seeks to influence policy in Washington. The institute has reportedly engaged with senior government officials.
However, reports suggest the Trump administration is cautious about vaccine policies. A memo from President Donald Trump’s main pollster labeled vaccine skepticism as "politically risky" with potential "electoral downsides."
Despite these reported political considerations, the MAHA Institute demonstrated no apprehension regarding its anti-vaccine agenda. Gorton presented slides with titles such as:
- “The Polio Fraud”
- “The flu shot has given 1,900,000 Americans Alzheimer’s”
- “VACCINES ARE THE GREATEST SCAM IN MEDICAL HISTORY”
Gorton also claimed that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had commissioned over 100 studies into vaccine injuries, attributing the number to Kennedy's expressed desire for further vaccine studies. HHS did not immediately provide comment on whether it was conducting new studies on vaccine injuries.
New Slogan Introduced
The event also served as a platform to promote the slogan "Massive Epidemic of Vaccine Injury," which speakers shortened to MEVI. This aims to provide a more specific term for chronic disease concerns.