Childhood mortality -- death before age 15 or so -- used to run at about 50%.
Every second child born, died before becoming an adult, all over the world, for as far back as we've been able to track.
We didn't turn the corner until about 1900, when science got us the germ theory. That sparked sanitation and vaccination.
A cabinet nominee (RFK Jr) who questions vaccines is frightening. A nominee who brags about not washing his hands (Hegseth) is terrifying.