During the recent J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference held in San Francisco, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla delivered a pointed message regarding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s contentious views on vaccines. In the context of Kennedy being nominated as the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President-elect Donald Trump, Bourla emphasized the discrepancy between Kennedy’s stance and the consensus among global health regulators and the scientific community concerning vaccines. Bourla stated that vaccines remain among the most effective and cost-efficient health interventions since the advent of clean water. You can read more about Bourla’s comments here.
Bourla further highlighted the risk of decreasing childhood vaccination rates, citing a decline in vaccinations among kindergarteners since 2020. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that nationwide vaccination coverage for MMR, DTaP, polio, and varicella has decreased to approximately 93% over the past few school years. Bourla warned that if vaccination rates fall below specific thresholds, the U.S. risks experiencing epidemics, which would pose significant challenges for both the new administration and public health.
While maintaining a critical stance on Kennedy’s past statements on vaccines, Bourla also expressed a willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration, particularly in areas such as cancer research and development. This cooperative sentiment was echoed by Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, who pointed out the importance of vaccine data and the well-established risk-benefit ratio known to health agencies including the FDA and CDC. Emma Walmsley, CEO of GSK, also reaffirmed the value of vaccines, noting recent policy changes, such as the removal of copays in the Inflation Reduction Act, as a testament to their efficacy and financial viability.