The Trump administration, under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will require placebo-controlled trials for all new vaccines. This decision, criticized by vaccine experts as a radical departure from past practices and potentially delaying vaccine availability, is defended by the administration as a safety measure. Experts dispute the claim that existing vaccines lacked placebo trials and highlight the ethical and logistical challenges of such trials, particularly for updated COVID-19 vaccines. Concerns are raised about the potential impact on vaccination rates and public health during ongoing outbreaks.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.