WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s lengthy report of questioning the security of childhood vaccinations persevered as a flash level for him Thursday throughout a affirmation listening to the place a key Republican rapidly raised issues about his views.
Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a doctor who chairs the well being committee, opened the listening to with powerful questions for Kennedy. He requested him to reject a long-discredited idea that vaccines trigger autism.
Kennedy refused to flatly achieve this.
“It’s no secret I’ve some reservations in your previous positions on vaccines and different points,” Cassidy instructed the nominee.
Cassidy, of Louisiana, is taken into account to be a vital vote for Kennedy to be confirmed because the Trump administration’s prime well being official. He shared with Kennedy a private story about an 18-year-old lady whose liver was failing from a hepatitis an infection.
“It was the worst day of my medical profession as a result of I assumed $50 of vaccines may have prevented this all.”
Cassidy famous that Kennedy’s broad recognition and identify recognition had given him a strong platform for his views on vaccines and mentioned Kennedy’s advocacy had led folks to forego the COVID-19 vaccine.
He then bore into Kennedy’s views on widespread vaccines, Lyme illness and approvals for future vaccines.
“If you’re authorized to this place, will you say unequivocally, will you reassure moms unequivocally and with out qualification that the measles and hepatitis B vaccines don’t trigger autism?” Cassidy requested.
Kennedy prevented answering instantly, however mentioned “if the info is there, I’ll completely try this.”
Then, in a uncommon present of across-the-aisle cooperation, Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont impartial, adopted up on Cassidy’s line of questioning.
Once more, Kennedy refused to offer a definitive reply.
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends infants obtain doses of the hepatitis vaccination.
In his opening remarks, Kennedy as soon as once more rejected the “anti-vaccine” label and as a substitute mentioned he’s “pro-safety.” He repeated lots of the identical strains he provided to the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.
Sanders, the senior minority celebration member on the committee, pressed Kennedy to concede that well being care was a human proper, as his father, Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncles, John F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy, had executed. Kennedy once more didn’t give a definitive reply.
Kennedy needs to steer the $1.7 trillion company that oversees well being care protection — Medicare, Medicaid and the Inexpensive Care Act market — for roughly half the nation, approves then recommends vaccines for lethal illnesses and conducts security inspections of meals and hospitals.
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