Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s repeated support for vaccines during Senate confirmation hearings follows a long history of disparaging them.
The Republican senator’s childhood bout with the disease has informed his ardent support for vaccines amid increasing skepticism of them within his party.
Any NYT reader looking at the buzzy front page headline below would immediately think that Robert F Kennedy Jr. is a madman. Can he really be an advocate
Kennedy Jr., President Trump's pick for health secretary, has falsely linked vaccines to autism and argued people should have separate vaccination schedules based on their race.
There are an estimated 300,000 polio survivors in the United States. For some, the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary is reviving their painful memories.
As Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Senate confirmation hearings begin, some local physicians worry the anti-vaccine activist may promote unfounded fears about vaccine safety. And the medical industry professionals warn eroding vaccination rates could fuel disease outbreaks.
The collapse reflects a widespread and mounting distrust of public health authorities, and the reason for that distrust is no mystery.
“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 ...
RFK Jr.’s skepticism of vaccines has raised fears about his nomination by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
A longtime environmental lawyer with no experience working in public health administration or medicine, Kennedy is known for his work in questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including encouraging parents not to adhere to vaccination recommendations and helping to sue a vaccine manufacturer for what he alleged was marketing fraud.
The takeaways after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced questions from senators during his confirmation hearings to potentially lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Bills to limit mandatory vaccines for childhood illnesses such as measles and polio have surfaced in more than 15 states, buoyed by President Trump’s health secretary nominee.