Kennedy Defends Vaccine Policies, Faces Scrutiny Over CDC Turmoil
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday amidst ongoing concerns regarding access to COVID-19 vaccines and internal disruption at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The three-hour hearing saw Kennedy defend his recent removal of the CDC director, a decision made less than a month after he publicly supported her confirmation. He repeatedly characterized the former director as untrustworthy, alleging she had personally confessed this to him. Kennedy also reiterated his long-held claim of widespread corruption within the CDC, a sentiment agency staff have urged him to moderate following a shooting incident last month where a gunman, motivated by vaccine misinformation and anti-CDC rhetoric, fired over 500 rounds onto the CDC campus, resulting in the death of a local police officer.
Kennedy addressed concerns about COVID-19 vaccine availability, asserting that access remains unrestricted. However, this statement directly contradicts current realities, as restrictions implemented under his leadership are actively denying access to vaccines in multiple states.Reports indicate that individuals, including cancer patients, are currently being turned away from vaccination sites due to these policies.
Throughout the hearing, Kennedy repeated familiar arguments against vaccines, suggesting that medical experts supporting vaccination are influenced by financial incentives from the pharmaceutical industry.
