RFK Jr. on Vaccines: ‘If You Show Me the Data…

In his second confirmation in two days, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gave qualified answers to a battery of questions about the safety and efficacy of vaccines that drew exasperated, sometimes impassioned responses from Democrats on the Senate health panel\

But with perhaps the exception of the committee chair, Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, the Republican members of the health committee said supportive things about Kennedy and asked him questions that elicited answers about his support of President Donald Trump’s agenda and his views on chronic disease. To be confirmed as HHS secretary, Kennedy needs just a majority vote by the Republican-controlled Senate, and there was no major revelation today that would suggest a turn against him,

Kennedy’s opening statement this morning, delivered in a distinctive, raspy voice that is result of spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological disorder, was almost identical to the one he gave Wednesday before the Senate finance committee. It was centered on the rising rates of chronic disease in the U.S., which he framed as a problem with economic and spiritual consequences and related to Trump’s vision of asserting American strength. “[President Trump] understands we cannot be a strong nation unless we are first a healthy people,” Kennedy said. He also said he rejected that the label that he is antivaccine and anti-industry: “Well, I am neither,” Kennedy said. “I am pro safety. I am pro good science.”

In an exchange with Cassidy in the early part of the hearing, Kennedy gave a qualified answer to Cassidy’s questions about whether he would as HHS secretary reassure mothers that the measles and the hepatitis B vaccines do not cause autism. “If the data is there, I will absolutely do that,” Kennedy said. Cassidy followed up statement that he knows the data is there. “If you show me the data, I will be the first person to assure the American people that they need to take those vaccines,” Kennedy responded.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont who caucuses with the Democrats, who questioned Kennedy immediately after Cassidy, said there are dozens of studies that show that vaccines — Sanders spoke about vaccines in general, not any particular vaccines —don’t cause autism.

“You just said, if I heard correctly, if the evidence is there is there,” said Sanders and then speaking louder and emphatically: “The evidence is there. That’s it.” Sanders then posed questions to Kennedy about whether he agreed that vaccines do not cause autism. “Senator, if you show me the studies I will absolutely…” Kennedy said before Sanders cut off.

Kennedy also expressed doubts about the data supporting the efficacy of COVID vaccines. Sanders cited estimates about the number of deaths and hospitalizations the COVID vaccines had prevented and asked Kennedy whether the COVID-19 vaccines were “successful in saving millions of lives.” He responded: “I don’t know. We don’t have a good surveillance system, unfortunately. I don’t think anybody can say that. If you show me the science that shows that…”

Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington state Democrat, asked Kennedy whether he stood by past statements that the human papillomavirus (HPV) was “dangerous and defective” and increased rather decreased the risk of cervical cancer. Kennedy responded by saying that he represented 100s of young girls who feel that they were injured by that vaccine and that the trial about that lawsuit was underway in Los Angeles. “Those questions will be answered by a jury in that trial.”

Later in the hearing, Kennedy said he had given away his rights to an fees in that lawsuit, which is against Merck, the maker of Gardasil.

Not all of Kennedy’s responses to vaccine questions were hedged. He said he would support developed and distribution of avian flu vaccine and that he would recommend the measles vaccine for children to parents.

When Cassidy pressed him on whether vaccine review standards at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will not be changed from “historical norms,” he said yes after giving a more elaborate answer.

The Democrats joined Sanders in expressing frustration at what they perceived as Kennedy’s evasiveness. “When people tried to pin you down on a point, you said ‘show me the data’ or “bring me the studies,’ I want to suggest that the data is out there and the studies are out there,” said Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat.

Some of the Republican senators pushed back on whether the issue of vaccines causing autism has been settled by studies and argued that supposedly settled issues are often overturned by more research. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin said when his kids come out from getting vaccinated “they look like a frigging pin cushion.”

“I mean, 72 vaccinations,” Mullin continued. “I think there is a reason we should be questioning this. When you start looking at the risk in autism, why wouldn’t be looking at everything.”