Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis stays cautious however is “excited” by President-elect Donald Trump‘s resolution to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. because the director of the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS).
Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist who was included on a 2021 listing of the 12 people spreading the majority of misinformation about vaccines on-line, was named as Trump’s alternative lead the nation’s high well being company on Thursday.
Whereas quite a lot of well being consultants had been alarmed by Trump’s decide and lots of Democrats appeared lower than thrilled with the prospect of Kennedy as HHS secretary, Polis stated that he was “excited” by the information.
In a put up to X, previously Twitter, the Democratic governor recalled how Kennedy helped him “defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019″—referring to vaccine necessities in colleges for illnesses like polio, which killed or paralyzed thousands and thousands of adults and youngsters earlier than vaccination was extensively out there.
“I am excited by the information that the President-Elect will appoint @RobertKennedyJr to @HHSGov,” Polis wrote. “He helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019 and can assist make America wholesome once more by shaking up HHS and FDA [the Food and Drug Administration].”
“I hope he leans into private alternative on vaccines relatively than bans (which I feel are horrible, identical to mandates) however what I am most optimistic about is taking up massive pharma and the company [agricultural] oligopoly to enhance our well being,” he added.
Polis went on to share a collection of quotes from Kennedy, whereas urging his followers to not “mock him or disagree.” The quotes expressed Kennedy’s need to decrease prescription drug prices, eradicate “the vitamin division” of the FDA and “get off of pesticide-intensive agriculture.”
“He’ll face sturdy particular curiosity opposition on these, however I stay up for partnering with him to really make America wholesome once more and I hope that we will lastly make progress on these necessary points,” Polis wrote.
Kennedy responded to the governor’s put up with the next: “Thanks, Governor Polis. I stay up for working with you. Let’s Make America Wholesome Once more.”
Polis’ reward for Kennedy was considerably curious on condition that the governor bashed him and his “Make America Wholesome Once more” slogan lower than three months in the past, shortly after Kennedy suspended his impartial presidential marketing campaign and endorsed Trump.
“Undecided how bringing again Measles and bringing again Polio makes anybody extra wholesome …” Polis wrote in an X put up on August 25.
Newsweek reached out for remark to the workplace of Polis through e-mail on Thursday night time.
Eric Maruyama, spokesperson for the governor, stated in an e-mail to Newsweek on Thursday night time that Polis “has not modified his view as a complete on RFK Jr. or on the Governor’s beforehand acknowledged considerations relating to a few of RFK Jr’s positions.”
“Whereas against RFK’s positions on a bunch of points, together with vaccines and banning fluoridation, he would recognize seeing motion on pesticides and efforts to decrease prescription drug prices and if Trump goes to appoint somebody like him then allow them to additionally tackle soda, processed meals, pesticides and heavy metals contamination,” Maruyama wrote.
“However he positively doesn’t endorse actions that may result in measles outbreaks and opposes unscientific propaganda that undermines confidence within the lifesaving impression of vaccines,” he added. “The Governor himself was vaccinated final week with the flu vaccine and the COVID vaccine.”
Polis, who obtained some criticism for enforcing vaccine mandates in his state on the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, additionally insisted that vaccines weren’t his cause for his supporting Kennedy in an extra X put up on Thursday, arguing that vaccination is crucial for “public well being and security.”
“Science should stay THE cornerstone of our nation’s well being coverage and the science-backed resolution to get vaccinated improves public well being and security,” Polis wrote. “But when as a rustic we observe the science we’d even be way more involved in regards to the impression of pesticides on public well being, ag coverage on vitamin, and the shortage of entry to prescribed drugs as a result of drug excessive costs.”
“This is the reason I’m for a serious shake-up in establishments just like the FDA which were obstacles to reducing drug prices and selling wholesome meals selections,” he added. “Lest there by any doubt, I’m vaccinated as is my household. I’ll maintain any HHS Secretary to the identical excessive customary of defending and enhancing public well being.”
