As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the stand during Wednesday’s confirmation hearing as President Donald Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, many of his past statements were called to question, particularly surrounding the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
The hearing touched on the role of Medicaid and Medicare, pricing reform, pharmacy benefit managers, abortion access, medical research funding and more in a wide-ranging discussion. But Kennedy’s high-profile stance on vaccines often floated to the top as illustrative of the candidate’s stark divide from the position of the agency he’s been tapped to lead.
Senators grilled Kennedy regarding past statements he made as an anti-vaccination activist, referring to books he has published, appearances on popular podcasts and his founding of the Children’s Health Defense organization, which falsely connects childhood vaccination and autism despite a lack of scientific evidence.
“The receipts show that Mr. Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks [and] charlatans, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of vaccines,” Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in opening remarks. “He has made it his life’s work to sow doubt and discourage parents from getting their kids lifesaving vaccines — it has been lucrative for him and put him on the verge of immense power.”
Kennedy attempted to distance himself from his past vaccine comments, saying some statements were taken out of context and that others were made in a wider effort to control chronic diseases in the U.S.
“I am supportive of vaccines,” Kennedy told the Senate Finance Committee, pointing to a focus on vaccine safety as opposed to being generally “anti-vaccine.” He said the media had portrayed him unfairly as a vaccine skeptic, adding he would not restrict access to immunizations as secretary of the HHS.
While Kennedy’s supporters on the committee turned the conversation to the Trump administration mantra “Make America Healthy Again” with a focus on nutrition and chronic disease, his opponents returned to the topic of infectious disease as indicative that he is unfit for the position.
Here are some of the memorable vaccine-related moments from yesterday’s confirmation hearing ahead of Kennedy’s appearance today in front of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Anti-vaccine or “pro-safety”?
Wyden quoted back statements to Kennedy that he made in previous podcasts, including that “no vaccine is safe and effective” and that Kennedy would “do anything — pay anything — to go back in time and not vaccinate your kids.”
Kennedy, in turn, made a concerted effort to downplay his past remarks.
“News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry, and I am neither — I am pro-safety,” Kennedy said. “I believe that vaccines play a critical role in healthcare.”
Kennedy chalked up the anti-vaccine moniker to his advocacy style of “disturbing the status quo by answering uncomfortable questions.”
Wyden continued to question “whether Robert F. Kennedy should be trusted with the health and well-being of the American people,” calling to attention what appeared to be shifting priorities and stances. He brought up a petition Kennedy filed asking the FDA to revoke emergency authorization of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021, as well as Kennedy’s published works that implied parents were misled into believing measles vaccines were safe and effective.
Several senators brought up a 2018 incident in Samoa, where two infants died after receiving tainted measles vaccines, and Kennedy, along with his Children’s Health Defense organization, promoted vaccine skepticism. Kennedy told Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., that he takes no responsibility for the dozens of deaths that followed.
Lingering lawsuits
Along with Kennedy’s anti-vaccine rhetoric over the years, he has also been involved in legal action against vaccine makers, including Merck & Co., which markets the human papilloma virus shot Gardasil.
Warren pointed to ongoing litigation against Merck by law firm Wisner Baum claiming harm from the HPV vaccine — Kennedy reportedly made more than $2 million referring clients to the law firm to bolster the case, and plans to keep his financial stake under the auspices of the Senate Ethics Committee. Warren, however, claimed the lawsuit would undermine Kennedy’s position as secretary of the HHS.
“Kennedy can kill off access to vaccines and make millions of dollars while does it,” Warren said. “Kids might die, but Robert Kennedy can keep cashing in.”
While confirming he would not take money from the pharmaceutical industry — “I don’t think they want to give me money,” Kennedy said — he did not agree to discontinue lawsuits against drug companies in the aftermath of serving in the Trump administration.
‘Are you supportive of these onesies?’
During the hearing, Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., sought to showcase Kennedy’s inconsistent vaccine stance, displaying photos of products sold by the Children’s Health Defense: infants’ onesies with statements like “Unvaxxed, unafraid” and “No vax, no problem.”
Kennedy, who resigned from the organization following his nomination for the role, denied these statements aligned with his beliefs. Notice of his Senate hearings this week were on the homepage of the organization’s website as of Wednesday.
“You’re coming before this committee, and you say you are pro-vaccine … and yet your organization is making money selling a child’s product … that casts fundamental doubt on the usefulness of vaccines,” Sanders said. “Are you supportive of these onesies? Are you supportive of this clothing, which is militantly anti-vaccine?”
“I am supportive of vaccines,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy faces another round of questioning from senators today before his confirmation can go to the full Senate for a vote.
