HHS appoints RFK Jr. to lead, vaccine maker stocks decline.

• The stock prices of vaccine manufacturers decreased after President-elect Donald Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine critic, to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Experts predict that a second Trump term could lead to Kennedy increasing his opposition to vaccines.
• The stock prices of Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer, BioNTech, and GSK decreased on Thursday.

On Thursday, the stock prices of vaccine manufacturers decreased following the announcement that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine critic, would head the Department of Health and Human Services under President-elect Donald Trump.

On Thursday, the stocks of 's, 's, and 's fell more than 5%, 7%, and 2%, respectively, in the final hour of trading as reports emerged about Trump's expected pick.

The German drugmaker that helped develop a Covid vaccine with Pfizer saw its shares close more than 6% lower. Meanwhile, the British drugmaker, which produces flu shots and other vaccines, experienced a roughly 2% decline in share price.

As Trump announced his pick on Truth Social, the shares of those companies dropped in extended trading.

Experts predict that a second Trump term could lead to an increase in anti-vaccine rhetoric, potentially discouraging more Americans from getting Covid shots and routine vaccinations, which have saved millions of lives and prevented debilitating illnesses for decades.

The decline in Covid vaccination rates in the U.S. has negatively impacted Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax's profits over the past two years.

Kennedy has a history of being a vaccine skeptic and has made numerous false and misleading statements about their safety, including claiming a link to autism despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

The most well-funded anti-vaccine organization in the country is the nonprofit Children's Health Defense, founded by Kennedy.