Health Secretary Warns Poultry Shots May Worsen Bird Flu Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a stark warning against vaccinating chickens to combat the ongoing bird flu outbreak, claiming it could transform poultry farms into “mutation factories” and heighten risks to human health. Speaking in a Fox News interview earlier this week, Kennedy doubled down on his skepticism of vaccines, this time targeting proposals to inoculate egg-laying hens amid soaring egg prices and widespread culling.

“It’s dangerous for human beings to vaccinate the birds,” Kennedy told host Sean Hannity on March 11. “If you use a leaky vaccine—one that doesn’t provide sterilizing immunity—you turn those flocks into breeding grounds for mutations. That could accelerate the jump to humans.” He cited consensus from the heads of the NIH, CDC, and FDA, asserting that all three agencies oppose poultry vaccination due to these risks.

The bird flu outbreak, which began ravaging U.S. poultry farms in 2022, has led to the culling of over 166 million chickens, driving egg prices to a national average of $5.17 per dozen as of this month—down from January’s $5.80 but still more than double the pre-outbreak norm of $2. Kennedy blames the crisis on aggressive culling rather than the virus itself, which he notes is not transmissible through eggs or cooked poultry. “We’ve killed 166 million chickens. That’s why we have an egg crisis,” he said. “Most of our scientists think culling is the wrong approach.”

Instead of vaccines or mass slaughter, Kennedy advocates isolating infected flocks and letting the disease run its course to identify naturally immune birds for breeding. “You should test therapeutics on those flocks and breed the survivors,” he argued, framing it as a sustainable alternative aligned with his broader MAHA vision to rethink industrial agriculture and public health.

Kennedy’s remarks have ignited debate. The USDA, which conditionally licensed an H5N1 vaccine for chickens in February, has invested $100 million in vaccine research as part of a $1 billion Trump administration plan to curb the outbreak. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has called vaccines “a tool, not a silver bullet,” emphasizing biosecurity over mass inoculation. Yet Kennedy’s outright rejection of poultry shots clashes with some experts who see vaccination as a viable containment strategy when paired with strict controls.

“Vaccines can reduce spread if managed properly,” said Dr. Daniel Perez, a poultry medicine expert at the University of Georgia, in a recent statement. “The mutation risk exists, but it’s overstated without evidence of widespread failure.” Perez and others argue that Kennedy’s “mutation factory” claim lacks peer-reviewed support, though they acknowledge imperfect vaccines could theoretically drive viral evolution under poor conditions.

On X, reactions are polarized. Supporters hail Kennedy’s stance as a bold stand against Big Pharma and industrial farming, with posts like “RFK Jr. gets it—stop the vaccine madness!” Others, including virologist Angela Rasmussen, dismiss his claims as unscientific, pointing to successful poultry vaccination programs in Europe. “He’s not a trustworthy source on this,” Rasmussen posted on March 7.

The timing of Kennedy’s warning amplifies its impact. With egg prices still stinging consumers—down 10.9% since January but far from pre-2022 levels—the public is hungry for solutions. Kennedy’s alternative—eschewing vaccines and culling for natural immunity—has drawn both praise and skepticism. Critics argue it risks prolonging outbreaks, while MAHA advocates see it as a return to resilient, less interventionist farming.

As the Trump administration navigates this crisis, Kennedy’s influence is undeniable. His HHS role gives him a megaphone to shape health policy, and his poultry vaccine stance could sway USDA plans. For now, the debate rages on, with Americans left wondering: will chickens become the next battleground in the fight to “Make America Healthy Again”?