Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s leadership as health secretary has elevated debate on public health. Many disagree with his approach, me included. Still, I see value in this debate for what may come next.
Traditional public health initiatives seek to reduce disease burden in the population through individual education, encouragement, resources and mandates (like childhood vaccinations). A foundational belief is that broad-based, communal health cannot be achieved without the responsible, individual actions of citizens and residents. Herd immunity is a foundational concept.
Such public health values are now in conflict with individual and parental rights of choice. Florida may soon cancel all vaccine mandates based on a “choice-first” view.
I assume that most Floridians will still choose to be vaccinated; the data in favor for individual health is overwhelming. Why risk cholera, measles, rubella, COVID-19 and a host of other illnesses when cheap, safe and effective treatments are available?
Kennedy claims the U.S. public health establishment has failed us. He claims this, in part, because many Americans don’t exercise enough, are overweight, eat too much processed food, etc. Attacking public health for such outcomes is like blaming potato farmers for consumption of greasy French fries. It is what individuals prefer and do that matters.
I suggest we drop “public” from the current debate and speak about all the amazing evidence we have in favor of “individual” health behaviors and approaches. Let’s make American health great through our individual choices as citizens of this great nation.
Tom Meuser
Portland
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