Washington, D.C. – Oregon Senator ron Wyden sharply criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership at the department of Health and Human services (HHS) during a Senate hearing thursday, accusing him of prioritizing an “anti-vaccine mission” over public health and contributing too an exodus of staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
HHS Director Kennedy defended recent “shakeups” at the CDC,asserting the need for “bold,competent,creative new leadership” and the removal of officials with “conflicts of interest,catastrophically bad judgement and political agendas,” following what he characterized as agency failures during the pandemic.
Wyden countered that the departures are a direct result of Kennedy’s “unceasing crusade against vaccines,” stating, “instead of finding ways to help American families pay less for health care, robert Kennedy is singularly focused on his anti-vaccine mission, fueled by a messiah complex, the consequences be damned.”
The hearing unfolded amid ongoing controversy surrounding Kennedy’s tenure and the future of vaccine policy. Former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, in an op-ed published prior to the hearing, alleged Kennedy requested she pre-approve recommendations from the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, whose members he reportedly selected.Walensky stated that some panel members have been critical of vaccines and have spread misinformation.
Kennedy disputed Walensky’s account, claiming he only asked her if she was a “trustworthy person,” to which he alleges she responded, “no.”
Kennedy has repeatedly denied being “anti-vaccine,” despite a documented history of vaccine criticism and the dissemination of inaccurate data regarding vaccine efficacy. More than 1,000 current and former HHS staffers recently sent a letter urging President Donald Trump to fire Kennedy, citing his spread of “inaccurate health information.”
The hearing also occurred as questions arise regarding the availability of updated COVID-19 vaccines. The Food and Drug governance approved the latest vaccine version on August 27, but with limited availability initially restricted to individuals over 65 and those at high risk. The CDC’s vaccine panel is scheduled to meet this month to issue broader recommendations.
