RFK Jr., Trump peak for the health secretary, toasted on vaccines: shots

Thursday, the story of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to anxiety about vaccines was the central subject of his second day of confirmation audiences of the Senate. The choice of President Trump to manage the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Kennedy has faced difficult issues of the Democrats, as well as some key republican senators.

Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., Doctor and chairman of the committee, said that he had faced a “dilemma” on the opportunity to support Kennedy’s confirmation at the end of more than three hours of question Thursday .

“ Science of golden standards ”

Throughout the hearing of the aid committee in the Senate (health, education, labor and pensions), Kennedy called for a return to the “science of gold standards” and said that he would support Vaccines if you were shown data supporting their security. But when he was presented with such data, Kennedy said he did not know him or had not mentioned them to doubt it.

When Cassidy underlined a meta-analysis of 1.2 million children from 2014 which concluded that there is no link between autism and vaccines, Kennedy replied: “You show me these scientific studies , and you and I can meet – and there are other studies as well, and I would like to show them. “

These types of remarks seemed to disturb Cassidy, who spoke of a young patient he treated in Louisiana in the face of hepatic insufficiency of hepatitis B, which could have been avoided if the patient had been vaccinated. He also said that two children had just died in a Louisiana Usi “of vaccine preventable diseases”. He said that his experiences as a doctor convinced him of the importance of vaccines.

“(Can a) a 71 -year -old man who has spent decades criticizing vaccines, and who is financially dedicated to find the fault of the vaccines – can he change his attitudes and his approach now that he will have the most Important influencing vaccine policy in the United States? “Asked Cassidy. “I was able to understand this for my vote.”

Cassidy’s support could be essential for Kennedy’s approval. He also sits on the Finance Committee, which has his say if the appointment of Kennedy advances a full vote from the Senate.

Vaccination questions of both parties

Most of the Committee Republicans seemed to welcome Kennedy’s opinions, including as far as vaccines are concerned. Senator Tom Tuberville, R-Ala., Said during the hearing that his first granddaughter soon planned would not be “a cushion”, referring to the vaccines. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., Said that people should be opened on any possibility that could be an autism factor.

Kennedy often did not respond directly when he was in a hurry on his decades of anti-vaccine activism. Many senators have described Kennedy as extremely influential. “I have voters who partially credit you not to vaccinate their child,” Cassidy told him.

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

At Wednesday’s hearing Kennedy said his own children had been vaccinated and that he supported the calendar of infant vaccines. However, Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, the anti-vaccine defense group, Kennedy, is closely ally and used to introduce herself, told Politico that she expected Kennedy to undertake a “penetrating” examination From this calendar if he was confirmed as secretary of the HHS, and insisted that his long -standing skepticism has not changed.

An emotional moment

Senator Maggie Hassan, DN.H., brought the piece to silence by questioning Kennedy on Thursday, speaking in tears of cerebral paralysis of his 36 -year -old son.

“A day does not pass when I don’t think – what did I do when I was pregnant with him that could have caused hydrocephalus that had an impact so much the political party, does not want Knowing what is the cause of autism, “said Hassan. “When you continue to sow doubt about the established sciences, it makes us impossible to move forward.”

Another tense moment came when senator Angela Alsobrooks, the newly elected Maryland Democratic Senator, questioned Kennedy. Alsobrooks asked questions about his complaint during an appearance in 2021 according to which: “We should not give blacks the same calendar of vaccines which is given to whites because their immune system is better than ours.”

Kennedy replied by mentioning “a series of studies”, which can include 2014 research from the Mayo clinic which showed a more robust immune response among African-American participants in a study of the rubbing vaccine.

“What different vaccinations schedule would you say that I should have received?” Alsobrooks, which is black, asked Kennedy. “It’s so dangerous,” she added.

“People in authority lie”

Democrats have continued to question Kennedy about some of his more wild affirmations that lack evidence, especially that Wi-Fi and 5G cause cancer, that AIDS is a different disease in Africa than in the United States, and that Lyme disease can have been developed as a military bio-arme.

Kennedy said he was standing behind his claims on Wi-Fi and his AIDS description. He said that he “had never believed” that “Lyme had been created by the army, but did not disavow his previous statements. He cited three books suggesting the theory that he admitted that he had not read thoroughly.

Senator Tim Kaine, D-VA., Confronted Kennedy about an article on social networks referring to the September 11 attacks he made during his presidential race last year, Kennedy wrote: ” It is difficult to say what is a conspiracy theory and what is what is it “and says that if he was elected, he would not” take sides on September 11 “.

“As general matters, do you have trouble saying what a conspiracy theory is and what is not? Is this kind of general deficit that you find in your own analytical capacities?” Asked Kaine. Kennedy replied that his father had taught him that “people in authority are”.

Low understanding of health policy

Kennedy tripped during his first hearing on Wednesday when he was asked about Medicare and Medicaid – two huge health insurance programs that he would supervise as HHS secretary. Senators continued to question his fundamental knowledge of health programs and health policy on Thursday. Hassan questioned him on different aspects of Medicare and his answers were incorrect.

He was questioned by the classification member Senator Bernie Sanders, I-VT., About the republican proposals of the Congress to make dramatic cuts in Medicaid. Kennedy said he had not seen these proposals. “You are going to have a significant influence on health care policy” if confirmed, said Sanders.

“I can only tell you what President Trump told me is that he wants me to do better medicaid, medicare and obamacare,” said Kennedy.