Summary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US health secretary and vaccine critic, testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, where his statements on vaccines and public health caused disagreement. Lawmakers criticized Kennedy for promoting false or misleading information about vaccines during a time of rising measles cases in the US.
Key Facts
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the US health secretary and has changed routine vaccine recommendations.
- He opposes vaccines and has promoted misinformation amid a large measles outbreak in the US.
- Kennedy said children today are the sickest in history, though child mortality rates have actually fallen and life expectancy has increased.
- Kennedy avoided discussing recent vaccine cuts, likely due to pressure from the administration, including President Trump.
- Lawmakers challenged Kennedy about ending the CDC’s pro-vaccine messaging campaign and for spreading false claims.
- The measles outbreak has grown under President Trump’s first year, with nearly 2,300 cases and some child deaths.
- Kennedy incorrectly claimed the hepatitis B vaccine is not well studied and wrongly said babies born to uninfected mothers do not need it.
- Both Democrats and Republicans criticized Kennedy for promoting harmful misinformation during the hearing.
