“The RSV epidemic and Lyme disease came from gain-of-function research.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Baseless
FactCheck.org says: Lyme disease and RSV have long affected humans, and there's no evidence they came from a lab.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
HHS Secretary. 55 claims checked by other fact-checking organisations, from 2004 to 2026. The ratings are theirs, in their own words.
“Teenage males today have less sperm than the average 65-year-old American man.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Unsupported
FactCheck.org says: There are not data showing how sperm counts of teenagers in the general population compare with sperm counts of men in their 60s. Evidence is mixed on whether sperm counts have fallen in the population over time..
“We just approved two new drugs, two new oncology drugs, in record time, one in 45 days. The closest before that was 310 days.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Misleading
FactCheck.org says: The two oncology drugs reviews, while fast, were not records for drug review speed. The 310-days figure represents an average review speed for new drugs overall in 2025.
“The only [vaccines] that have been safety tested in a randomized placebo-controlled trial is the COVID vaccine ... So we do not know whether those vaccines are causing downstream effects.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Misleading
FactCheck.org says: Vaccines are always tested for safety, but not always with a saline placebo. Safety information also accumulates over time with use as vaccines are monitored.
“The science was clear enough on proteins that we should dramatically increase our input of proteins.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Misleading
FactCheck.org says: Many Americans are already consuming protein within the new, relatively high, recommended range. There’s some uncertainty about how much protein people should consume for optimal health. Multiple factors affect protein …
“Der Anstieg von Allergien liegt an Impfungen.”
BR24 Faktenfuchs rated this: Falsch
“It may be "better" if fewer children received flu shots; a Cochrane review "found that there is no evidence that the flu vaccine prevents serious disease or that it prevents hospitalizations or death in children.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Misleading
FactCheck.org says: The Cochrane review focused almost exclusively on randomized controlled trials, which did not include any data on hospitalization and deaths. Other types of studies have shown that flu vaccines protect against severe il…
“Recent studies already point to serious risks when mifepristone [medication abortion] is used without proper medical oversight.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Unsupported
FactCheck.org says: The scientific literature shows that serious adverse events following medication abortion, including following telehealth abortion, are rare.
“There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, and it’s highly likely because they’re given Tylenol.”
FactCheck.org rated this: False
FactCheck.org says: A single Danish study showed boys circumcised in medical settings were around twice as likely to be diagnosed with a form of autism called infantile autism by age 5. The study included no data on Tylenol.
“Aluminum in vaccines cause autism”
BR24 Faktenfuchs rated this: False
“Antidepressant drugs, known as SSRIs, “might be contributing" to school shootings.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Unsupported
FactCheck.org says: Experts say there is no direct evidence linking SSRIs to mass shootings. SSRIs do not have black box warnings for homicidal ideation.
“Anybody can get the COVID-19 booster.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Misleading
FactCheck.org says: The FDA limited vaccine approval to higher-risk people. While the vaccine can still be given off-label, people may need a prescription and may not be able to get vaccinated at pharmacies.
“Supplementary data from a Danish study on aluminum-containing vaccines and chronic health conditions, including autism, “shows calamitous evidence of harm.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Distorts the facts
FactCheck.org says: A large Danish study recently provided reassurance that aluminum-containing vaccines are not associated with increased rates of chronic health conditions in children, including autism. Kennedy cherry-picked and misused …
“You can't sue" vaccine companies, "no matter how negligent they are.”
FactCheck.org rated this: False
FactCheck.org says: A person must go through the vaccine court first, but can still sue for claims of negligence, fraud, manufacturing defects or a failure to warn a patient’s doctor.
“One mutation, and the vaccine becomes ineffective.”
FactCheck.org rated this: False
FactCheck.org says: It’s taken numerous mutations for the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines to decline against a new variant — and even then, the vaccine still provides some protection against severe disease.
“Nations who accept the new regulations [WHO International Health Regulations] are signing over their power in health emergencies to an unelected international organization that could order lockdowns, travel restrictions, or any other measures.”
FactCheck.org rated this: False
FactCheck.org says: The WHO doesn't have authority to order countries to take certain measures when responding to a pandemic or other public health emergency. The group can only make recommendations.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory panel “has been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest and has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Distorts the facts
FactCheck.org says: There's no evidence of problematic conflicts of interest or that the group inadequately scrutinizes vaccines.
“I didn’t fire any working scientist.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Misleading
FactCheck.org says: News reports and interviews with past and current HHS employees show that scientists have been let go from multiple agencies at HHS.
“No evidence of the need for COVID shots in healthy children”
First Check rated this: Misleading. Contrasts evidence.
“Europe doesn't "use the chickenpox vaccine specifically because the preclinical trial shows that when you inoculate the population for chickenpox, you get shingles in older people, which is more dangerous.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Misleading
FactCheck.org says: Some countries in Europe do routinely vaccinate children against chickenpox. Others do not, in part due to theoretical concerns about shingles. But there isn’t strong evidence that vaccinating children is causing a prob…