I'm a former surgeon general. RFK Jr. has the wrong priorities.

Key Points:

• Dr. Jerome Adams, former U.S. surgeon general, criticizes HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for deprioritizing infectious disease surveillance amid rising foodborne illnesses like salmonella and cyclospora outbreaks affecting multiple states.
• Adams warns that focusing solely on chronic diseases while infectious outbreaks surge undermines public health, as outbreaks strain resources and complicate long-term disease prevention.
• He opposes recent changes to the childhood vaccine schedule that separate the MMR vaccine, cautioning this could hinder timely protection and worsen measles resurgence.
• Adams urges Secretary Kennedy to restore comprehensive FoodNet pathogen tracking, fill key CDC and FDA leadership roles, prioritize inspections of high-risk foods, promote vaccine confidence, and strengthen international disease surveillance partnerships.
• He emphasizes that addressing infectious diseases and chronic conditions are not mutually exclusive and calls on Kennedy to use his authority to better protect public health.