Peter Jay Hotez (born May 5, 1958)[1] is an American scientist, pediatrician, and advocate in the fields of global health, vaccinology, and neglected tropical disease control.

[21] Hotez has used his public profile on Twitter and other social media platforms to combat misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic and about vaccines.

"We've been hearing either the sky was falling or there was no problem... the reality is more nuanced than that and that requires some explanation based on scientific principles.

[29] He had already experienced significant prior harassment because of his vaccine advocacy, including at his lectures, receiving online threats, and being blamed for his daughter's autism.

[30] In June 2023, he tweeted his concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sharing misinformation about vaccines on Joe Rogan's podcast.

Rogan, Kennedy, and Twitter owner Elon Musk asked Hotez to participate in a debate on the podcast.

Upon declining the invitation, Hotez was harassed by their fans, with anti-vaccine activist Alex Rosen confronting him at his home.

[33] In October 2023, he was given the inaugural Anthony Fauci Courage in Leadership Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America for his efforts in combating anti-science.