Vanderbilt’s role in unpacking racial health disparities in Congress

Bamlak Aklilu | April 5th, 2025

Editor’s Note: As with all other articles, The Vanguard aims for accuracy, transparency, and fairness in reporting in all claims made in articles relating to public health, race, and politics. The opinions expressed are not necessarily representative of Vanderbilt University and are grounded in peer-reviewed studies and reliable sources, which are cited in the text and at the end of the article.

On January 30, 2025, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), for the position of Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Assuming this role would make him responsible for protecting the health of Americans through managing health-related programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, overseeing public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and responding to health emergencies and policies to improve healthcare access and quality.

RFK Jr. is the founder and former chairman of Children’s Health Defense (CHD), a nonprofit organization that positions itself as an overseer of public health, though it has been widely criticized for spreading vaccine misinformation, fueling distrust in medical science, and contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Similarly, RFK Jr.’s vaccine skepticism and promotion of misinformation have made him one of the most controversial figures in public health. He has repeatedly questioned vaccine safety, claiming unproven links between vaccines and conditions like autism, as well as suggesting racial differences in immune responses, both of which have been thoroughly debunked by the scientific community.

Despite his current alignment with Republican leadership, RFK Jr. was raised in one of America’s most prominent Democratic political families, the Kennedy family. His nomination has ignited sharp debate, reflecting the stark partisan divide in the Senate. For example, the Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 along party lines, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed, sending his nomination to the full Senate, which later confirmed him as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

During his confirmation hearing, newly elected African American Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks confronted Kennedy, asking, “…so what different vaccine schedule would you say I should have received?” Kennedy responded by citing a 2014 study by Dr. Gregory Poland of Mayo Clinic and commented that “Blacks need fewer antigens.”

This remark echoes previous claims by RFK Jr., who has alleged that vaccines “overload” Black boys, leading to higher rates of autism. The study he referenced examined immune responses to the rubella vaccine among different racial and ethnic groups. It found that individuals of African descent produced higher levels of rubella-specific neutralizing antibodies compared to those of European and Hispanic descent. However, Dr. Poland has publicly refuted RFK Jr.’s interpretation, clarifying that while immune responses may vary, the study does not support altering vaccine schedules based on race.

While Kennedy’s claims are widely rejected by experts, research on racial health disparities does highlight systemic health issues. For instance, a Phenome-Wide Association Study (PheWAS) conducted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center analyzed 1.88 million patient records from 1990 to 2019, revealing higher risks of chronic diseases among Black patients, including sickle cell anemia, hypertension, diabetes, and end-stage renal disease. Conversely, White patients were more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma and congenital anomalies. The study also noted higher rates of autoimmune diseases (such as lupus and sarcoidosis) and schizophrenia among Black patients, while anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder were more prevalent among White patients. Notably, Black patients had fewer cancer diagnoses, suggesting potential healthcare access barriers and diagnostic biases. While broad claims linking health to racial differences may be easily made, it is essential to account for the systemic factors influencing these outcomes.

These findings underscore the complex interplay of genetics, socioeconomic status, systemic racism, and healthcare inequities. Research indicates that individuals from racial minority groups often face socioeconomic disadvantages and experience discrimination, which can adversely affect mental health. For instance, studies have found that African Americans and Hispanics report higher levels of unmet mental health needs and dissatisfaction with services received compared to their White counterparts. However, experts caution that genetic variation does not justify race-based medical policies, a claim frequently made by vaccine skeptics like Kennedy.

Kennedy’s misrepresentation of racial health data has raised alarm among public health officials and medical experts, who warn that such rhetoric can fuel racist biases in healthcare and undermine vaccine trust.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy was a leading critic of mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, and public health measures such as lockdowns and mask mandates. His misinformation campaigns led to temporary social media bans as platforms sought to curb the spread of false claims. The CDC and World Health Organization have repeatedly refuted Kennedy’s statements, reaffirming the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

Despite his controversial stance on public health, RFK Jr. has also earned recognition for his work in environmental law. He has successfully litigated against major industrial polluters and has been a strong advocate for corporate accountability in environmental regulation. His supporters praise his willingness to challenge government agencies he believes are influenced by corporate interests — a theme he brought up during his confirmation hearing.

During Senator Bernie Sanders’ questioning, Kennedy aimed at corporate influence in healthcare, stating, “Corruption isn’t limited to federal agencies — it extends to Congress as well. Nearly every member of this panel, including yourself, is receiving millions of dollars from pharmaceutical companies and protecting their interests.” This remark underscores Kennedy’s broader skepticism of government and pharmaceutical industry ties, which has fueled both his support and criticism.

Cover photo courtesy of Isabella Bautista

References

Bergner, Daniel. “America’s Hidden Racial Divide: A Mysterious Gap in Psychosis Rates.” The New York Times, 3 Dec. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/12/03/magazine/psychosis-schizophrenia-risk-race.html.

Haralambieva, I. H., Salk, H. M., Lambert, N. D., Ovsyannikova, I. G., Kennedy, R. B., Warner, N. D., Pankratz, V. S., & Poland, G. A. (2014). Associations between race, sex and immune response variations to rubella vaccination in two independent cohorts. Vaccine, 32(17), 1946–1953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.01.090

McDonald, Jessica. FactCheck.org. (2025, February). Fact-checking RFK Jr.’s other health claims during HHS confirmation hearings. Retrieved from https://www.factcheck.org/2025/02/factchecking-rfk-jr-s-other-health-claims-during-hhs-confirmation-hearings/

Pulley, J. M., Jerome, R. N., Bernard, G. R., Shirey-Rice, J. K., Xu, Y., & Wilkins, C. H. (2021). The Astounding Breadth of Health Disparity: Phenome-Wide Effects of Race on Disease Risk. Journal of the National Medical Association, 113(2), 187–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2020.08.009