• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

Health experts prep Dem lawmakers on anti-vaccine arguments ahead of RFK Jr’s confirmation hearings

by January 28, 2025
written by January 28, 2025

A group of Democratic senators previewed several anti-vaccine arguments during a roundtable discussion, including a claim that vaccines cause autism, several days before Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s scheduled confirmation hearings later this week.

Even though Kennedy’s name was ‘not supposed’ to come up during the hearing, according to at least one of the health experts present at the discussion, his nomination to be the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was invoked frequently by lawmakers seeking answers about how to combat anti-vaccine claims and so-called ‘misinformation,’ including arguments about vaccines that Kennedy has promoted in the past.

One claim the senators asked the public health experts at the roundtable about was whether vaccines cause autism, a claim Kennedy has discussed publicly in interviews.

‘This is something that I hear a concern about quite a lot,’ Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., asked the panel. ‘What, if any information, can you give us to help us push back against that?’ 

The doctors on the panel explained the lack of robust studies proving this link while highlighting the wide breadth of studies that have shown no links between vaccines and autism.

‘Academic researchers, pediatricians, scientists took that concern seriously enough to spend tens of millions of dollars to answer the question,’ said Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician with an expertise in virology and immunology. ‘The more impactful part of your question is how do you get that information out there, because frankly, once you’ve scared people it’s hard to unscare them.’ 

Offitt added that since there is no clear cause of autism, it makes it harder to refute claims from Kennedy and others. Dr. Joshua Sharfstein of Johns Hopkins pointed lawmakers to preeminent medical authorities within the U.S., such as the National Academy of Sciences, as places they could go for evidence that vaccines do not cause autism.

The Democratic group of lawmakers, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses with Democrats, asked questions about, and learned ways to refute, other anti-vaccine claims, such as whether vaccine manufacturers are immune from being held accountable for vaccine injuries.

The experts pointed out the presence of a National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program that allows certain vaccine injury victims to receive compensation from the government, but they suggested that if Kennedy upended the current system and opened up more companies to liability, it could potentially put vaccine manufacturers out of business.

‘Am I right that the HHS secretary has some discretion about removing vaccines from that list [and opening them up to civil litigation] if they were to choose?’ asked Sen. Time Kaine, D-Va. ‘Because if that were the case, I would obviously worry about – that would be one worry I would have and a set of questions I might like to ask people nominated for positions within HHS.’

Other questions from lawmakers that the health experts helped answer included queries about how to distinguish between vaccine side effects versus vaccine complications, how to combat claims that vaccines are not studied enough, questions about how the government monitors the safety of vaccines, questions about how undermining vaccine efficacy can impact public health and more. 

Kennedy will face tough questions about his stance on vaccines this week during his confirmation hearings in front of both the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).

The chair of the Senate’s HELP committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., called Kennedy ‘wrong’ on vaccines during an interview earlier this month. 

Democrats, meanwhile, have been more pointed about their criticism. During the roundtable discussion with public health experts, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., called Kennedy ‘dangerous’ and ‘unqualified’ for the position of HHS secretary. 

‘The bird flu, if it explodes, we’re going to need to have some confidence, especially in those people who should be vaccinated, that they can trust the government when they say that it’s safe, they can trust the medical community, and I’m just very afraid of Robert F. Kennedy’s candidacy,’ Markey said. 

‘Say goodbye to your smile and say hello to polio,’ Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said after news of Kennedy’s nomination to head HHS. ‘This is a man who wants to stop kids from getting their polio and measles shots. He’s actually welcoming a return to polio, a disease we nearly eradicated.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Nvidia loses nearly $600 billion in market value after Chinese AI startup bursts onto scene
next post
Republicans vie to replace Matt Gaetz in crowded 10-way special election primary

related articles

CDC Director Susan Monarez refuses to be fired...

August 28, 2025

Bill Gates met with Trump to talk ‘importance...

August 28, 2025

Trump asks SCOTUS to uphold freeze on billions...

August 27, 2025

White House demands all Gaza hostages return home...

August 27, 2025

Apple expected to roll out texting update that...

August 27, 2025

Cracker Barrel’s logo mea culpa is a start...

August 27, 2025

Mike Johnson hits iconic Nashville bar, blasts Dems...

August 27, 2025

Trump touts massive fundraising haul since winning 2024...

August 27, 2025

House Democrats call on Rubio to allow injured...

August 27, 2025

SkyWater pitches itself as all-American firm as Trump...

August 27, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ stalls in House amid conservative mutiny threats

    July 2, 2025
  • USDCHF and USDJPY: USDJPY makes a bearish move to 157.42

    July 12, 2024
  • Trump brushes back Russia’s Medvedev after ‘war’ warning: ‘Watch his words’

    July 31, 2025
  • Congress unveils spending plan after Trump calls on Republicans to avoid government shutdown

    March 8, 2025
  • ‘Access granted’: Biden’s free vacation at friend’s California mansion draws ire of critics

    August 23, 2024

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 3

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 4

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (5,835)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (904)

Latest Posts

  • Top gainers & losers today: Nifty, Sensex jump 2%, metals in the spotlight

    April 11, 2025
  • Stellar and Bitcoin Cash: Stellar in lateral consolidation

    August 13, 2024
  • ‘This man stood up’: Pro-Trump group launches blistering seven-figure ad buy as closing pitch to voters

    November 2, 2024

Recent Posts

  • Discovery of ‘fraudulent’ voter applications prompts PA probe of Arizona company’s potential involvement

    November 1, 2024
  • Walz unknown by 4 in 10 Americans, but favorability rating tops Vance: poll

    August 21, 2024
  • Nasdaq Slumps as CPI Data Aligns with Expectations

    August 16, 2024

Editor’s Pick

  • Michelle Obama tells DNC her parents were ‘suspicious’ of the wealthy despite own $70M net worth, luxury homes

    August 21, 2024
  • Russia is supplying Houthis with satellite data to attack ships in the Red Sea: report

    October 25, 2024
  • Japanese eateries hike prices as tourist influx reaches record levels

    July 30, 2024
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock