Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivers an announcement on “Important Medical and Scientific Findings for America’s Children” with President Donald Trump in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on September 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. Federal health officials have suggested a link between acetaminophen apply during pregnancy and a risk of autism, although many health officials have found inconclusive results in research. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans disapprove of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s job performance and the federal government’s evolving vaccination policy, according to a poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF.
In addition, the huge majority of respondents have heard of it the unproven claims President Donald Trump, Kennedy and others noted in behind schedule September that taking acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, during pregnancy could be a possible environmental factor in a child later being diagnosed with autism.
A total of 77% of the people surveyed by the KFF stated that they knew about the statements. However, it varied whether people believed the claims, which have yet to be confirmed by the medical community.
Only 4% of respondents said it was “definitely true” that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of the child developing autism, and 35% said the claim was “definitely false.” Thirty percent said it was “probably true” and 30 percent said it was “probably false.”
Overall, 65% said the statement that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy increases the risk of a child developing autism is either probably or definitely false. a sophisticated disorder Experts believe this is the result of both genetic and environmental factors.
Broken down by political party, 86% of Democrats, 67% of Independents and 43% of Republicans said the claims were either probably or definitely false.
The Opinion poll shows that 59% somewhat or strongly disapprove of the way Kennedy is taking on his fresh role at the helm of the nation’s public health infrastructure.
The level of support varies significantly depending on political party affiliation: 86% of Democrats, 64% of Independents and 26% of Republicans oppose it.
A slightly higher number, 62%, either somewhat or strongly disapprove of the United States’ vaccination policy.
A similar trend emerged when respondents were divided by political party. 88% of Democrats, 67% of Independents and 31% of Republicans somewhat or strongly opposed the vaccination policy.
The survey shows that compared to previous KFF surveys in September 2023 and earlier this year, a withering share of Americans trust the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide trustworthy information about vaccines.
Two years ago, a total of 63% of respondents trusted the CDC regarding vaccines, but that share has dropped to 50%.
Democrats’ confidence in the CDC’s vaccination recommendations has fallen to 64% from 88% two years ago, independents have increased from 61% to 47%, and Republicans have remained relatively stable, only increasing from 40% to 39%.
Across all political parties, a person’s doctor, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, continue to be highly trusted for vaccine information.
83% said they trusted their doctor or health care provider, 69% believed information from the American Academy of Pediatrics and 64% trusted the AMA.
The poll of 1,334 adults took place Sept. 23-29 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for the entire survey. Questions broken down by a person’s political ideology had a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.
