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STORY: Shares in global vaccine makers fell sharply on Friday (November 15).

Markets were spooked by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services.

He has chosen Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously spread misinformation on vaccines.

Kennedy - who is a vaccine skeptic - has been criticized for making false medical claims, including that vaccines are linked to autism.

Several medical scientists on Friday said they were alarmed that vital vaccination efforts could be undermined.

Shares in Britain's GSK were down over 3% at their lowest in more than a year.

AstraZeneca and France's Sanofi were also down more than 2.5%.

GSK and Sanofi offer a range of vaccines, including for flu and childhood diseases.

Bavarian Nordic was hit hardest, as it fell 16%, though it was also hurt by third-quarter results.

The drugmaker produces a vaccine for mpox.

The Danish firm's CEO said they were concerned Kennedy could drive vaccine skepticism.

German-listed shares of BioNtech were down more than a tenth.

The company is Pfizer's partner on COVID-19 vaccines.

Analysts pointed to a Kennedy interview on NBC in which he said that he would not "take away" available vaccines.

But they added the overall prospects for biotech development ventures were seen as weakened.

Europe's healthcare sector was the worst performer in early trading - down 2.2% at its lowest since April.