Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was building up a following with his anti-vaccine nonprofit group, Children’s Health Defense, and became one of the world’s most influential spreaders of fear and distrust around vaccines.

Washington — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, according to three sources familiar with the selection. Kennedy has a long record of criticizing vaccines, including spreading misleading claims about their safety.

Mr Kennedy, who initially stood as an independent candidate before backing Mr Trump, has claimed the next US president will push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office.