RFK JR., Trump’s choice to health secretary, grilled about vaccines: shots

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s history of sticking anxiety about vaccines was the central topic Thursday in his second day of Senate confirmation hearings. President Trump’s election to run the Department of Health and Human Services, Kennedy faced tough questions from Democrats as well as a few central Republican senators.

Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., A doctor and chairman of the committee said he was facing a “dilemma” about whether to support Kennedy’s confirmation at the end of more than three hours of questioning Thursday.

‘Gold Standard Science’

Throughout the Senate’s Help (Health, Education and Pensions) Committee Committee), Kennedy urged to return to “Gold Standard Science” and said he would support vaccines if they showed data that supports their security. But when he was presented with such data, Kennedy said he was not aware of it or quoted reasons for doubting it.

When Cassidy pointed to a 2014 meta -analysis Of 1.2 million children who concluded that there is no connection between autism and vaccines, Kennedy replied: “You show me the scientific studies and you and I can meet it – and there are other studies as well and I will very much like to show them to you.

These kinds of comments seemed that problems with Cassidy talked about a young patient he treated in Louisiana against liver failure from hepatitis B, which could have been prevented if the patient had been vaccinated. He also said that two children just died in a Louisiana ICU “from vaccine prevention diseases.” He said his experiences as a doctor convinced him of the importance of vaccines.

“(Can a) 71 years old man who spent decades criticizing vaccines and who has financially assigned to find errors with vaccines-can he change his attitudes and approach now that he wants the most important position that affects the vaccine policy in United say? ”Cassidy asked. “I had to figure it out for my voice.”

Cassidy’s support could be critical of Kennedy’s approval. He also sits in the Financial Committee, which has the case of whether Kennedy’s nomination goes on to a full Senate vote.

Vaccine questions from both parties

Most Republicans in the committee seemed to welcome Kennedy’s views, including with regard to vaccines. Senator Tom Tuberville, R-Al., Said during the consultation that his soon-to-be-expected first grandson would not be “a pincushion” that refers to vaccines. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., Said people should be open-minded about any option that can be a factor in autism.

Kennedy often did not answer directly as he was pressed for his decades of anti-vaccine activism. Many senators described Kennedy as extremely influential. “I have voters who partially credit you for their decision not to vaccinate their child,” Cassidy told him.

During an exchange with Senator Patty Murray, D-Wa., Kennedy said he would recommend parents vaccinating their children against measles. But when Cassidy was asked to indicate “unequivocally and without qualification” that measles and hepatitis B vaccines do not cause autism, Kennedy would not give a yes or no answer.

In Wednesday’s consultation, Kennedy said his own children were vaccinated and that he supported the child vaccine plan. Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, Anti-Vaccine Advocacy Group Kennedy, however, is closely linked to and used to drive, told Politico That she expected Kennedy to complete a “penetrating” review of this schedule if he is confirmed as HHS secretary, and insisted that his long -standing skepticism of vaccines has not changed.

An emotional moment

Senator Maggie Hassan, DN.H., brought the room to silence while asking Kennedy on Thursday and talking tearfully about his 36-year-old son’s cerebral palsy.

“One day doesn’t go when I don’t think about – what did I do when I was pregnant with him who may have caused hydrocephalus that has affected his life? Then don’t suggest someone in this body of either political party, don’t want to know what the cause of autism is, ”said Hassan.

Another tense moment came when late. Angela Alsobrooks, the newly elected Democratic Senator from Maryland, questioned Kennedy. Alsobrooks asked about his claim in a 2021 view that: “We should not give black people the same vaccine plan given to whites because their immune system is better than ours.”

Kennedy replied by mentioning “a series of studies” that may include 2014 Research From the Mayo Clinic, which showed a more robust immune response among African American participants in a study of the Rubella vaccine.

“What other vaccine plan would you say I should have received?” Alsobrooks, who is black, asked Kennedy. “It’s so dangerous,” she added.

‘People in Authority Lie’

Democrats continued to question Kennedy about some of his wilder allegations that lack of evidence, including wifi and 5G causing cancer, that AIDS is another disease in Africa than in the United States, and that Lyme disease may have been developed as a Military Biowapon.

Kennedy said he was behind his claims about Wi-Fi and his description of AIDS. He said he “never thought” Lyme was created by the military but did not reject his previous statements. He quoted three books suggesting the theory that he admitted he had not read thoroughly.

Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., Famored Kennedy about a Social Media Post Referring to the attacks on September 11, he made during his presidential driving last year, Kennedy wrote: “It’s hard to tell what is a conspiracy theory and what is not” and said if he was elected, he would not “Take pages on September 9th.”

“As a general case, do you think it’s hard to tell what is a conspiracy theory, and what isn’t it? Isn’t that kind of a general deficit that you find in your own analytical abilities?” Asked Kaine. Kennedy replied that his father had taught him that “people in authority are lying.”

A weak grip on health policy

Kennedy stumbled during his first hearing Wednesday when asked about Medicare and Medicaid – two huge health insurance programs he would oversee HHS secretary. On Thursday, the senators continued to question his basic knowledge of the programs and health policy more broadly. Hassan asked him on different aspects of Medicare and his answer was wrong.

He was questioned by the ranking of the member’s late. Bernie Sanders, i-Vt., About Congress Republican proposals to make dramatic cuts to Medicaid. Kennedy said he hadn’t seen these suggestions. “You will have a significant impact on health policy” if confirmed, Sanders said.

“I can only tell you what President Trump has told me, which is that he wants me to do Medicaid, Medicare and Obamacare better,” Kennedy said.