Public health faces political risk

Public health veteran William Foege argues RFK Jr's public statements threaten vaccine trust and life saving safeguards.

Public health faces political risk from RFK Jr

William Foege reflects on the history of public health, noting how vaccines, surveillance and coordinated effort helped eradicate smallpox and improve life expectancy. He compares that success to the Covid era, where he says federal guidance and local plans tangled amid political messaging, leading to confusion. He also calls out RFK Jr for promoting ideas about raw milk and vaccines, a stance he views as dangerous when echoed by people in power.

The piece lays out a three step approach for public health: get the science right, add a sense of practical wisdom or art, and bring in a moral compass. It cites long standing ideas that science is a pathway to truth rather than truth itself and argues that scientists must act with ethics to guide policy. The author urges public health professionals to stay focused on preventing premature death and reducing suffering, even when political winds blow against them.

The piece treats science and ethics as the backbone of public health, highlighting how leadership shape policy and public trust. It argues that political interference can undermine evidence based practice and slow response during health crises. It also frames moral leadership as essential, suggesting that public health demands not only data but values that protect vulnerable people.

The call to balance science, art and moral judgment offers a hopeful framework but depends on power holders choosing restraint and evidence over ideology. In a climate where misinformation travels fast, the piece warns that public health outcomes will hinge on a credible, steady commitment to truth and care rather than headlines.

Highlights

The future of public health may depend as much on ethics as on expertise.