President Trump orchestrated one of the most successful vaccine initiatives in history with Operation Warp Speed.

The landmark public-private partnership delivered the first COVID-19 vaccines in record time, compelled states to end disastrous lockdown policies, and showcased American scientific leadership at its best.

Despite the unreasonable mandates and other heavy-handed policies issued by the Biden administration, Trump has made no secret of his pride in the lifesaving achievement over the years.

Yet, now, the person charged with overseeing public health in his administration seems to be breaking with that amazing legacy. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently scaled back access to routine immunizations and raised questions about their efficacy.

Amid these shifts, confidence in vaccines has weakened — and "anti-vax" attacks on Trump himself have grown louder — hampering the president's ongoing efforts to both expand access to inoculations and defend Americans' medical freedoms.

President Trump's record on vaccines speaks for itself. When COVID-19 struck, he launched Operation Warp Speed to accelerate vaccine development.

The initiative delivered effective vaccines in mere months, far earlier than many experts thought possible.

Operation Warp Speed saving hundreds of thousands of lives and rescuing America's economy from the worst crisis in recent memory.

A University of Chicago economist estimated that the COVID-19 vaccines catalyzed over $900 billion in economic activity in just one year.

In his second term, Trump has continued to affirm the value of vaccination. "Pure and simple — they work . . . they're not controversial at all," he stated recently regarding childhood vaccines. "And I think those vaccines should be used."

He's right. Experts estimate that childhood vaccinations administered to Americans born between 1994 and 2023 will prevent over 500 million cases of illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations, and over 1.1 million premature deaths.

What President Trump doesn't support is mandatory vaccination. And that's for good reason. The government shouldn't be allowed to force Americans to take any medicine against their will — regardless of how safe or effective that treatment might be.

This stands in sharp contrast to his predecessor's position. President Biden's sweeping COVID-19 vaccine mandates were imposed without regard for medical nuance or individual circumstances.

Biden's diktats violated Americans' personal liberties and eroded trust in the vaccines themselves.

Trump's approach is what our current moment demands.

Letting the facts about vaccination speak for themselves and empowering Americans to make informed choices is the best way to rebuild public confidence.

But, under RFK Jr.'s leadership, HHS appears to be deviating from that approach.

RFK Jr.'s handpicked Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which develops our nation's vaccine recommendations, recently voted to restrict access to certain vaccines, including those for COVID-19 and measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.

These actions have bred uncertainty among physicians and patients alike, leaving many unsure which vaccines are available, recommended, and covered.

Uncertainty at the highest levels of government inevitably breeds mistrust among the public. In many parts of the country, vaccination rates are declining.

Large segments of Americans are confused about vaccine efficacy.

Recent decisions at HHS risk setting back hard-won gains in public health and stand in opposition to President Trump's record on vaccines.

Time and again, Trump has championed innovation, access, and personal freedom in equal measure — demonstrating that scientific progress and individual choice can go hand in hand.

By encouraging and supporting vaccinations for everyone without forcing them on anyone, Trump is trying to deliver on his promise to Make America Healthy Again.

His goal of keeping Americans healthy and free is one we should all share. And his vaccine legacy should be upheld, not eroded, by those in his own administration.

Drew Johnson is a health policy analyst and government watchdog at several conservative think tanks. In 2024, he was the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for Congress in Nevada's Third Congressional District, nearly defeating a long-serving Democratic incumbent in a blue district. Read more of Drew Johnson's reports — here.