Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accompanied by President Donald Trump, delivers a statement on “significant medical and scientific discoveries affecting American children” in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on September 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Federal health officials have suggested a link between the exploit of acetaminophen in during pregnancy as a risk of autism, although many health agencies have reported inconclusive research results. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans disapprove of the performance of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to a poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF. and the federal government’s evolving vaccine policy.
Moreover, the immense majority of respondents had heard of it unconfirmed claims in slow September by President Donald Trump, Kennedy and others that taking acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, during pregnancy could be one possible environmental factor in a child later diagnosed with autism.
A total of 77% of people surveyed by KFF said they were familiar with these claims, although whether people believe these claims, which have not yet been confirmed by the medical community, varies.
Only 4% of respondents said it was “definitely true” that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increased a child’s risk of developing autism, and 35% said the claim was “definitely false.” Thirty percent said it was “probably true” and 30% said it was “probably false.”
A total of 65% said it was probably or definitely false that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy increased the risk of a child developing autism. elaborate disorder According to experts, it is the result of both genetic and environmental factors.
By political party, 86% of Democrats, 67% of independents and 43% of Republicans said the claims were probably or definitely false.
The questionnaire shows that 59% of respondents somewhat or strongly disapprove of how Kennedy is handling his modern role at the top of the nation’s public health infrastructure.
Levels of support vary greatly depending on political party affiliation, with 86% of Democrats disapproving, 64% of independents and 26% of Republicans disapproving.
A slightly larger number, 62%, somewhat or strongly disagree with U.S. vaccine policy.
A similar trend emerged when respondents were separated by political parties. Eighty-eight percent of Democrats, 67% of independents, and 31% of Republicans somewhat or strongly disapproved of vaccine policy.
The survey shows that the percentage of Americans who believe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides reliable information about vaccines is degenerating compared to previous KFF polls conducted in September 2023 and earlier this year.
Two years ago, 63% of respondents overall trusted the CDC on vaccines, but that number has dropped to 50%.
Democrats’ confidence in the CDC’s vaccine recommendations dropped from 88% two years ago to 64%, independents fell from 61% to 47% and Republicans remained relatively steady, rising only from 40% to 39%.
Across political parties, vaccine information is highly trusted by a person’s doctor, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association.
Eighty-three percent said they trusted their doctor or health care provider, 69% trusted the American Academy of Pediatrics, and 64% trusted the AMA.
The poll of 1,334 adults was conducted Sept. 23-29 and has a margin of error for the full survey of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Questions broken down by a person’s political ideology had a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.
