Senators push RFK Jr. for reassurance on vaccines, saying the science is settled

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled Thursday to reassure a GOP swing vote and other senators about his support for vaccines, the major sticking point in his nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services under President Trump.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Republican, opened the hearing on Mr. Kennedy by asking him to assure parents that the measles and hepatitis B vaccines don’t cause autism.

“If the data is there, I will absolutely do that,” Mr. Kennedy told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

“I know the data’s there,” said Mr. Cassidy, a doctor.

Mr. Kennedy made assertions about a link between autism and vaccines as recently as July 2023 during a Fox News appearance.

On Thursday he said he would be the “first person” to reassure parents about childhood vaccines once he’s shown the proof.

“Not only will I do that, but I will apologize for misstatements that led people otherwise,” Mr. Kennedy said. “I will never stick on a point if somebody shows me data that says I’m wrong.”

Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent, chastised Mr. Kennedy for questioning whether the COVID-19 vaccine saved lives.

“I’m not going to go into HHS with any preordained …” Mr. Kennedy started to say.

“That is a very troubling response,” Mr. Sanders said. “You’re applying for the job. Clearly, you should know this.”

Mr. Kennedy, the son of late Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, ran for president as a Democrat and switched to independent in the 2024 race. He dropped out and backed Mr. Trump, who repaid his support with the high-profile nomination.

The Senate Finance Committee, which will vote on his nomination, grilled Mr. Kennedy for hours on Wednesday.

Republicans on the finance panel lined up to support Mr. Kennedy while Democrats scolded him over his vaccine stances and questioned whether he was qualified to oversee major insurance programs.

If no Democrats support Mr. Kennedy, he can’t afford to lose more than three votes from the Senate GOP majority. Three GOP senators — Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitch McConnell — bucked Mr. Trump and voted against his defense nominee, Pete Hegseth, who squeaked by with a tiebreaking vote from Vice President J.D. Vance.

The landscape makes Mr. Cassidy’s vote a critical one.

“It’s no secret I have some reservations about your past positions on vaccines and a couple other issues,” Mr. Cassidy said.

He added, “I’ve seen the benefits of vaccinations; I know they save lives. I know they are a crucial part of keeping our nation healthy.”

Mr. Kennedy enjoys broad appeal in certain areas, including his commitment to breaking up the revolving door between the pharmaceutical companies and government agencies that regulate them. Members of both parties appreciate his push to banish harmful food additives and his call to address underlying sources of diseases instead of spending billions to treat symptoms.

Yet Mr. Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism remains a sticking point for potential GOP holdouts and fueled Democratic opposition on Wednesday.

Mr. Cassidy said he wanted Mr. Trump to be successful but that Mr. Kennedy had to demonstrate what he would do with his power. For instance, he wants to know if Mr. Kennedy would recommend vaccinations to parents or dissuade them from getting their kids immunized.

“My phone blows up with people who really follow you. There are many who trust you more than they trust their own physician,” Mr. Cassidy said. “The question I need answered is, ‘What will you do with that trust?’”