Dr. Tina Shah Blasts RFK Jr., GOP Opponent, Over Vaccine Misinformation

India-West Staff Reporter

WESTFIELD, NJ — Pulmonary and critical care physician Dr. Tina Shah, running for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th District, is warning voters that Republican incumbent Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s alignment with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. poses serious risks to public health.

The Democrat, speaking at a virtual press conference hosted by 314 Action alongside Hawaii Governor Josh Green, criticized Kean for “enabling chaos” by backing policies and positions that undermine science and patient care.

Shah highlighted her firsthand experience treating patients and helping enroll New Jerseyans in Medicaid, noting that Kean’s votes to cut Medicaid, raise premiums, and reduce hospital funding directly harm those who rely on public programs.

She also condemned Kennedy’s anti-vaccine positions—including questioning childhood immunization schedules and promoting unproven links between Tylenol and autism—saying such actions have contributed to preventable disease outbreaks.

“Vaccines are a crowning jewel in modern medicine,” Shah said. “Undermining trust in science might look like a way to save money, but the way they save money is by letting people die.”

A first-time candidate who has worked under three presidential administrations on health policy, Shah is leveraging her medical expertise to challenge Kean in a competitive district, framing her campaign around evidence-based public health, patient safety, and protecting access to care.