RFK Jr. Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Vaccine Safety Claims and Covid Shot Access
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday to defend his controversial stance on vaccines and recent policy changes affecting Covid-19 immunizations. During the hearing, Kennedy reiterated disproven claims about the safety of mRNA Covid vaccines and asserted that access to booster shots remains unrestricted, despite evidence to the contrary.
Endorsement of Controversial Advisory Panel Member Raises Concerns
Kennedy expressed support for Dr. Retsef Levi, a newly appointed member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), who has publicly claimed that mRNA vaccines cause serious harm, including death, particularly among young people. This assertion contradicts extensive research demonstrating the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna, with serious adverse events being exceedingly rare.
Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) highlighted Levi’s statements during the hearing, prompting Kennedy to acknowledge agreement with them despite professing prior unawareness of the comments.
Disputed Claims About Covid Booster Accessibility
Kennedy maintained that Covid booster shots are available to anyone who wants them, though he conceded that access varies by state and that the government no longer broadly recommends boosters for healthy individuals. The FDA recently limited approval of updated Covid vaccines to adults aged 65 and older and individuals with underlying health conditions, pending further CDC guidance.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) challenged this view, emphasizing that many Americans cannot simply obtain Covid vaccines at pharmacies due to state-level regulations, insurance requirements, and the absence of universal recommendations. The FDA’s new restrictions have complicated vaccine distribution, with some pharmacies now requiring prescriptions.
Policy Changes and Leadership Turmoil at CDC
This hearing follows Kennedy’s earlier assurances to the Senate that he would not take actions discouraging vaccination. However, his tenure has seen the cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine development, restructuring of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, and removal of Covid vaccine recommendations for certain populations—moves critics argue limit immunization access.
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Last week, CDC Director Susan Monarez was dismissed, and four senior officials resigned, citing concerns over politicization and threats to public health. Monarez accused Kennedy of deliberately weakening America’s public health infrastructure and vaccine protections in a recent opinion piece.
Defense of Advisory Panel Overhaul Amid Conflict of Interest Claims
Kennedy defended his decision to replace all 17 previous members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, asserting that the new members are highly qualified scientists free from conflicts of interest and strongly pro-vaccine. However, a recent analysis by University of Southern California researchers found that prior conflicts of interest on the panel had been historically low before Kennedy’s appointments, some of whom are known vaccine skeptics.
Disputing Established Covid Vaccine Benefits
During the hearing, Kennedy questioned the effectiveness of Covid vaccines in preventing infection and death, stating, “We were told again and again the vaccines would prevent transmission, they prevent infection. It wasn’t true. They knew it from the start.” He also expressed uncertainty over Covid mortality data and vaccine impact, despite extensive studies estimating that Covid vaccines saved over two million lives globally from 2020 to 2024.
According to CDC data, Covid vaccines from the 2023-2024 season reduced the risk of severe illness by nearly 70% and hospitalization by about 50% in the initial months after vaccination among adults, with similar benefits observed in older populations.
