Vaccine safety center announced by Robert Kennedy Jr.

US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. announced on Thursday a research center to monitor and address rare vaccine side effects, as part of Trump administration initiatives to study adverse effects from vaccines.

Kennedy said authorities should listen to patients and families who report vaccine injuries and said the effort would help make vaccines safer and rebuild trust in public health institutions.

Vaccines can cause side effects such as slight fever or pain at the injection site, while serious adverse effects are rare and are continuously monitored by health officials. Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm told National Public Radio that vaccine safety should be studied, but that monitoring systems already exist to check for adverse events linked to vaccination.

Kennedy, who was appointed by President Donald Trump despite a lack of formal medical training, has faced criticism from the World Health Organization and other medical experts over efforts to overhaul child vaccinations in the United States.

The announcement comes after budget cuts at the federal health department and as the United States faces its worst measles outbreak in 35 years. Local authorities in Pennsylvania have reported five measles-related deaths in 2026, and the WHO says vaccination prevents up to five million deaths a year from diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, influenza and measles.