Washington – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s opinions on the security of vaccines, both in the past and in the presence, seemed to vote against his nomination after a second hearing on Thursday.
The Senator of Louisiana, Bill Cassidy, a doctor and chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Work and Pensions, said at the end of the three -hour hearing that he agreed to Kennedy that vaccines should be protected and effective, but that the two are far apart from of how they carried out their research.
“As someone who has discussed vaccinations with thousands of people, I understand that mothers want to calm down that the vaccine who receives their child is necessary, safe and effective. We agree on this point, we both, ”said Cassidy. “But we spoke out differently. And I think I can say that I have approached the predominance of evidence to calm them down, and they have taken on with selected evidence to throw doubts. “
Through The hearingCassidy and numerous other senators of both political parties asked Kennedy about previous statements, including a repeated claim that certain vaccines lead to autism.
Kennedy, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to the extremely influential post of the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, said he would apologize and peaceful the Americans about the hepatitis B vaccines if Cassidy could set data.
Cassidy discussed the decades of security data during the hearing and quoted studies examined by experts, but Kennedy has never withdrawn from his claims.
Kennedy repeated statements he made during his Hearing to confirm the Senate Financing Committee On Wednesday, during his hearing on Thursday, including the knowledge of science, although he added reservations.
“I will not go to HHS and impose my prefabricated opinions on HHS,” said Kennedy. “I will enable scientists to do their work at HHS and to ensure that we have a good science based on evidence that is reproducible where the raw data are published.”
The Autism Science Foundation writes about yours website This autism spectrum disorder is “a brain-based disturbance that is characterized by challenges of social communication and a limited and repeated and repeated behavior, activities and interests.” “Many genetic and environmental factors are associated with autism”.
“This includes both rare and common variants. About 15% of the cases of autism can be associated with a certain gene mutation, ”says the organization. “Some of the environmental factors examined include diseases in parents, age, toxic chemicals, medication that were taken during pregnancy, and before pregnancy as well as nutrition and nutrition.”
Sanders: “Take care of the insurance companies”
Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, a member of a ranking member in the Help Committee, said there were areas in which he hoped that Kennedy was successful, including reducing obesity and reducing ultra. But he said that the actual improvement in the general health of the Americans would require much more.
“I am not quite sure how we can make ourselves healthy again to make America healthy again, unless we have the courage to take over the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies that guarantee all people,” said Sanders .
Other political changes such as family and medical holidays paid are indispensable to ensure that people can lead a fit life, he said.
“Today there are women who have babies, then they will go back to work in a week or two because they have no guaranteed paid family and medical vacation,” said Sanders. “How do you have a healthy country in which women are forced to go back to work? When women and men are released because they stay at home, do they take care of their sick children? That doesn’t make America healthy again. “
Sanders said it was extremely complex for people to find time to live a fit life when they have to work extremely long hours and earn $ 13 or $ 14 an hour just to live in poverty.
Murkowski focuses on the health of the American indigenous people
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, another centristic Republican who has not announced publicly whether she will support Kennedy’s confirmation, asked him how he would aid improve the health results in communities of the American indigenous people.
“If you take a look at our health statistics whether it is a native to Alaska or whether it is Indians, our health statistics in this country are not where they have to be,” said Murkowski. “And it is in all categories. It is an infectious disease, it is tuberculosis, it is HEP C, it is mental health, it is depression, substance consumption, it is sexually transmitted diseases, it is high blood pressure, stroke. It is so deep and it is so complex and it is so complex. “
Murkowski quoted Kennedy’s earlier comments in which he said he would triple the amount of federal expenditure on tribal communities.
During the hearing, Kennedy did not commit himself to raise the financing for the Indian health service or other programs to support indigenous communities, but he hoped that he would hire someone from one of these communities at the level of deputy secretary level at HHS.
“I would actually like to describe him as a deputy secretary to ensure that all decisions we make in our agency are aware of their effects on the first nations,” said Kennedy.
Murkowski also commented on Kennedy’s statements about the security of vaccines and said that some things have to be shaken, but also “trust” in program programs for public health.
“We have made some significant profits in my state of Alaska when we vaccinated the many people in very rural areas, in which an outbreak of the disease can erase an entire village,” said Murkowski. “We saw this with the Spanish flu in 1918. And that’s why everyone was touched to the core; Villages were completely and completely and completely closed during the fear of transmission. “
Murkowski told Kennedy that he was clearly an influencer with a platform with which he benefits humans when he decides.
“I ask you to concentrate on how you can use your position to ensure the public a higher level of trust when it comes to these life -saving areas,” said Murkowski.
Collins probes on vaccines
Maine Senator Susan Collins, a center who will be exposed to a challenging re -election offer next year, said Kennedy, she agreed that the federal government had to concentrate more time, energy and money in relation to chronic diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
“But I am going to me when I read a quote from you, that says: ‘I will say to the scientists of the NIH, God bless you all. Thank you for your public service. We will award infectious diseases for about eight years, ”said Collins. “Don’t we have to do both?”
Kennedy said that he “absolutely” agreed that researchers should focus on finding solutions to forms of illness and diseases, but argued that there was no enough money.
Collins, Chair of the Senate Committee for Medium -Upper Collection, tried to remind Kennedy that the constitution gives the congress the opportunity to spend federal money and steer where this money is going.
Collins mentioned a pediatric nurse in Maine, who was concerned about the effects of a decline in vaccinations in childhood to other children in their communities, especially those who cannot get vaccines due to illness or allergies.
“She commented on the concern that we would lose herdness in a classroom when people are held away from vaccinating their children,” said Collins. “And that means that a child who may be immunosuppressed and cannot get a vaccine exists that there is a risk of being in a classroom with a child who is not vaccinated. And so there is a risk of getting the infectious disease because we have lost herdness. “
Kennedy said he believed that people had stopped the safety of vaccines, but had undertaken to contribute “good science” if they were confirmed by the Senate.
“I will restore trust and that will restore the vaccine recording,” said Kennedy.
Hassan challenges Kennedy on autism
The Democratic Senator of New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan One of the pointed stockings with Kennedy During the hearing, the statements of some GOP senators who criticized Democrats questioned because they had asked Kennedy certain questions about his earlier statements.
“Now some of them are new to this committee and in the Senate, so you may not know that I am the proud mother of a 36-year-old young man with a severe cerebral paralysis,” said Hassan. “And a day doesn’t go away if I don’t think about it:” What did I do when I was pregnant with him that could have caused the hydrocephalus that influenced his life so much? “
“Please do not suggest that someone in this body does not want to know what is the cause of autism,” she said, adding that many of her friends have children with autism.
“Lord Kennedy, this first autism study shaked my world. And like every mother, I was worried about whether the vaccine had actually done something with my son,” said Hassan. “And you know what? It was a diminutive study with me About 12 children. become more successful.
Last updated at 3:26 p.m., January 30, 2025
