Published on Mar. 9, 2026
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Leaders of the MAHA Institute, a think tank aligned with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., called for eliminating the U.S. childhood vaccination schedule and removing all vaccines from the market until they can be proven ‘safe and effective.’ This represents a ‘huge escalation’ in efforts to curtail access to vaccines, according to the report, despite concerns within the MAGA administration over potential voter backlash to vaccine skepticism.
Why it matters
The MAHA Institute’s recommendations, if enacted, would significantly disrupt the U.S. public health framework and vaccination program, potentially leading to the resurgence of preventable diseases. This aligns with the broader anti-vaccine agenda pushed by RFK Jr. and his allies, which has faced pushback from federal health agencies.
The details
At a Washington gathering, MAHA Institute president Mark Gorton called for eliminating the childhood vaccination schedule and removing all vaccines from the market until proven ‘safe and effective.’ This would represent a major escalation from the CDC’s recent revisions to the vaccine schedule, which maintained approved vaccines through ‘shared clinical decision-making.’ Despite concerns within the MAGA administration over potential voter backlash, the MAHA Institute showed no signs of slowing its anti-vaccine agenda, with slides promoting theories like ‘The Polio Fraud’ and claiming ‘VACCINES ARE THE GREATEST SCAM IN MEDICAL HISTORY’.
- The MAHA Institute made these recommendations at a gathering in Washington, D.C. on March 9, 2026.
The players
MAHA Institute
A think tank aligned with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that is pushing an anti-vaccine agenda.
Mark Gorton
President of the MAHA Institute who called for eliminating the childhood vaccination schedule and removing all vaccines from the market.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
An environmental lawyer and prominent anti-vaccine activist who is aligned with the MAHA Institute.
Jim O’Neill
Former acting CDC director who recently left federal service after signing off on changes to the childhood vaccine schedule.
Vinay Prasad
Former FDA official who reportedly blocked an mRNA vaccine from being reviewed by the agency, and has also left federal service.
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What they’re saying
“The childhood vaccination schedule needs to be eliminated. All vaccines need to be removed from the market until they can be proven to be safe and effective.”
— Mark Gorton, President, MAHA Institute (NOTUS)
The takeaway
The MAHA Institute’s extreme recommendations to eliminate the childhood vaccination schedule and remove all vaccines from the market until ‘proven safe and effective’ represent a significant escalation in the anti-vaccine movement’s efforts to disrupt the U.S. public health framework. This agenda, aligned with RFK Jr.’s long-standing views, faces pushback from federal health agencies but could gain traction with the recent departures of some vaccine-skeptical officials from the CDC and FDA.
