RFK Jr. could further deter childhood vaccinations as rates fall in the U.S.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could further erode already falling U.S. vaccination rates against once-common childhood diseases.

Kennedy , a prominent vaccine skeptic, now leads the Department of Health and Human Services .

He wields enormous power over federal agencies that regulate vaccines and set shot recommendations.

Kennedy has said he will review the childhood vaccination schedule, and is reportedly preparing to remove committee members.

The share of U.S. children claiming an exemption from one or more shots rose from 2.5% in 2019-2020 school year to 3.3% in 2023-2024 school year .

Nearly all of that increase was driven by non-medical exemptions, such as religious or personal belief reasons.

The politicization of the pandemic only fueled more doubts about vaccinations, experts say.

Kennedy 's shake-up of advisory committees could produce "bogus recommendations" that highlight the harms rather than the benefits of shots, experts say.

Gostin : "It will have a longer-term corrosive effect on the value of science in America " Kennedy is reportedly shelving promotions for a variety of shots.