Nominee for federal health preparedness post questioned hepatitis B vaccine for infants

The Trump administration has nominated Sean Kaufman to serve as Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services. Kaufman previously questioned giving the hepatitis B vaccine to infants and suggested a connection between vaccines and autism in posts and videos from 2025.

In a now-deleted May 2025 LinkedIn post, Kaufman wrote that if called an antivaxxer he would call the accuser a pedophile, then argued against the infant hepatitis B shot and raised autism rates as a concern. He also stated in the post that increases in autism, allergies, and other health issues deserve investigation rather than dismissal.

Kaufman's statements Kaufman made similar comments in a May 2025 video, downplaying hepatitis B risks for infants and limiting transmission mainly to certain adult behaviors. He separately described offering mRNA Covid-19 vaccines as reckless and supported efforts to rescind universal recommendations for those shots.

In older LinkedIn posts, Kaufman defended people who lost jobs over Covid-19 vaccine mandates and said he had been censored for promoting natural immunity. He has served as an expert witness in cases opposing vaccine mandates.

Confirmation hearing scheduled Kaufman's confirmation hearing is set for next week before the Senate health committee and will be a joint appearance with the nominee for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A progressive group called Protect Our Care urged the committee chair to block the nomination, citing concerns about oversight of the nation's emergency vaccine supply.

Kaufman cofounded a biosafety consulting firm. If confirmed, he would oversee national countermeasures during public health crises, including vaccines and protective equipment. A panel of vaccine experts selected by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.