On Tylenol, Vaccines, Raw Milk: Donald Trump And US Health Minister's 3 Claims

New Delhi:

Donald Trump's recent 'public service announcement' claiming pregnant women should avoid Tylenol due to alleged autism links—quickly refuted by medical professionals—has highlighted concerning health declarations from the U.S. President and his administration, particularly Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr's vaccine statements.

Throughout his presidency, Trump has made numerous questionable health-related statements without scientific backing, including promoting hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 'cure' during his first term.

His Health Secretary, confirmed in February, has proven equally controversial by advocating for unpasteurized milk consumption despite the Food and Drug Administration's explicit warnings about dangerous pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and Campylobacter that cause foodborne illnesses in raw milk.

Against this backdrop of Trump's Tylenol claims, we examine two alarming assertions from the President and his key public health advisor.

On Vaccines

Perhaps most concerning is Kennedy's stance on vaccines. As founder of Children's Health Defence, an anti-vaccine organization, he repeatedly questions routine childhood vaccinations' safety and effectiveness.

Kennedy has labeled the Covid vaccine "the deadliest ever made," contradicting Centers for Disease Control findings that debunk links to fatal cardiac events in young people.

His anti-vaccine rhetoric has intensified since taking office. In April, responding to rising autism diagnoses among American children, Kennedy promised a 'cure' within five months, stating, "By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we'll be able to eliminate those exposures." The Tylenol assertion—threatening global panic over a widely-used medication—appears to be the result.

Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue has emphasized there is no "credible science" supporting this claim.

Trump himself has made controversial health statements, including his April 2020 suggestion to inject disinfectant into COVID-19 patients.

His Tylenol-autism statement came Monday from the White House Oval Office, flanked by Kennedy and Medicare/Medicaid chief Mehmet Oz.

The President directly advised pregnant women, "Don't take Tylenol. There's no downside... don't take it... don't give it to the baby after the baby is born." He acknowledged, possibly prompted by advisors, that his remarks stemmed from 'common sense' rather than scientific evidence.

Alongside the Tylenol claim, Trump called for overhauling childhood vaccination protocols, declaring without evidence that many current vaccines are unsafe.

His proposed changes target vaccination timing and quantity, including splitting the MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) vaccine and delaying Hepatitis B vaccination by over a decade. Medical experts warn these changes could leave children vulnerable to preventable diseases.

The CDC and medical professionals have cautioned the administration about such statements, warning parents that following anti-vaccination advice could endanger their children's health.

On Raw Milk

In June 2023, Kennedy publicly stated he only consumes unpasteurized milk.

Pasteurization is a food preservation process involving heating liquids or foods to specific temperatures to eliminate harmful microorganisms and extend shelf life.

Raw milk from cows, sheep, goats, or other livestock contains bacteria safe for animal offspring but potentially dangerous for humans, especially those with compromised immune systems like transplant recipients or individuals with cancer or AIDS.

Kennedy's claim contradicts fundamental food safety science and is explicitly refuted by both FDA and CDC guidance. His declaration followed a CDC advisory warning about bird flu transmission through raw milk consumption and reminding the public that federal law prohibits selling raw milk for human consumption.

Nevertheless, approximately 30 American states currently permit such sales.

'Go Crazy'

When appointing Kennedy, Trump encouraged him to "go wild" and declared the nephew of assassinated President John F Kennedy would "Make America Healthy Again!"

Beyond his vaccination controversies, RFK assumed his position carrying unusual personal stories, including a claim that a worm once "entered his brain and ate a portion of it and then died."

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