RFK Jr's confirmation hearing highlights vaccine absolutism
By tomorrow, we will know if the Senate Finance Committee votes for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, but after facing intense scrutiny at his hearing last week, his chances hang in the balance.
The hearing was dominated by an unyielding focus on vaccine absolutism, which stifled what should have been a much-needed discussion about the broader public health issues facing Americans.
Despite the urgent need for a conversation about the escalating health crisis—rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders—the hearing was focused on attempts to force Kennedy into making categorical statements about vaccine safety.
Cornering Kennedy
Bill Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, set the tone early, asserting the scientific consensus on vaccines.
"The overwhelming scientific consensus is that vaccines are safe and effective," Senator Cassidy remarked, dismissing Kennedy’s more sceptical approach.
When asked by Senator Cassidy whether vaccines cause autism, Kennedy