RFK Jr. says his vaccine statements were misconstrued, vows not to block polio or measles shots

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. worked strenuously Wednesday to clarify his views on vaccines after a top Democrat challenged him on past statements and actions that seemed to suggest he was a blanket opponent of shots.

Mr. Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism is the main sticking point in his nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services under President Trump.

Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat, challenged Mr. Kennedy on his comments during a podcast that “there are no vaccines that are safe and effective.”

Mr. Kennedy said he was about to say there is no shot that is safe for all people, but the podcaster didn’t let him finish the sentence.

“He interrupted me at that point,” Mr. Kennedy told Mr. Wyden. “Bringing this up right now is dishonest.”

Mr. Wyden also pointed to a Kennedy-signed petition to block one of the COVID-19 vaccines during the height of the pandemic.

Mr. Kennedy brought that petition after the CDC recommended the COVID-19 vaccine “without any scientific basis” for 6-year-old children.

Third, Mr. Kennedy defended his work in Samoa, where parents and leaders said his anti-vaccine views led to an outbreak in 2019. Mr. Kennedy said his work in Samoa was unrelated to vaccines and no parent on the island nation would say they did not get a shot because of him.

“I support the measles vaccines. I support the polio vaccine,” Mr. Kennedy said. “I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking either of those vaccines.”

Mr. Wyden pointed to excerpts from one of Mr. Kennedy’s books that said parents had been “misled” into thinking measles was deadly.