Contentious Kennedy Hearing as Democrats Press for Explanation on COVID-19 Vaccine Modifications

In a heated Senate committee hearing, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny over his controversial views on vaccines and his role in turmoil at federal health agencies.

The hearing, which was marked by shouting from both Democratic and Republican senators, saw Kennedy engaged in near shouting exchanges with Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Tina Smith, among others.

Kennedy called Sen. Ben Ray Lujan "ridiculous," accused him of "talking gibberish," and claimed he didn't understand how the world works during a heated exchange about Kennedy's past comments on autism and vaccines.

The exchange came after Kennedy fired a panel of experts advising the government on vaccine policy in June and replaced them with a handpicked group that included several vaccine skeptics. This move has been met with criticism from several medical groups, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America and 20 other medical and public health organizations, who have called on Kennedy to resign.

The joint statement by these organizations stated that Kennedy's actions disregard decades of lifesaving science, spread misinformation, reverse medical progress, and decimate programs that keep the nation safe.

Last week, the CDC's director was fired, and several top CDC leaders resigned in protest, leaving the agency in turmoil. The ousted director, Susan Monarez, wrote that Kennedy was trying to weaken public health protections.

Kennedy also faced pushback from multiple Republican senators, including Tillis, Barrasso, and Cassidy, who are all physicians. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon accused Kennedy of stacking a vaccines committee with skeptics and conspiracy theorists.

Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis asked Kennedy why the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was fired. Kennedy responded by criticizing the CDC director as dishonest and claiming that CDC leaders who left the agency in support of her deserved to be fired.

In May, Kennedy announced that COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, a decision that was rejected by medical organizations such as the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and other public health groups who continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination especially for certain risk groups.

However, Kennedy has also praised the U.S. President Donald Trump for the Operation Warp Speed initiative, but he has also attacked the safety and continued use of COVID-19 vaccines.

During the hearing, Kennedy also refused to answer Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto's question about lowering drug costs for seniors.

The Senate Finance Committee called Kennedy to a hearing about his plans to "Make America Healthy Again," but Democratic senators pressed Kennedy on his actions around vaccines. The hearing was a testament to the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding Kennedy's role in vaccine policy and his impact on public health agencies.

Contentious Kennedy Hearing as Democrats Press for Explanation on COVID-19 Vaccine Modifications