Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Raises Eyebrows with Vaccine Comments

In a recent hearing before a House committee, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. found himself in the spotlight as Wisconsin Democrat Rep. Mark Pocan probed him on an increasingly divisive issue: vaccines. Responding to a pointed question from Pocan about whether he would vaccinate a child against measles today, Kennedy offered a cautious “Probably for measles,” but quickly shifted gears, claiming, “My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.” He maintained that Americans should not look to him for medical guidance, emphasizing, “I don’t want to seem evasive, but I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.”

Kennedy has been known for his skepticism about vaccines. He has long cast doubt on their efficacy and has been a voice behind the discredited theory linking certain vaccines to autism. Just last month, he argued that the measles vaccines are “leaky,” suggesting a decline in their effectiveness over time, a stance that medical experts dispute. When Pocan pointed out that providing public health advice is within the jurisdiction of the CDC, Kennedy explained, “What we’re trying to do is to lay out the pros and cons, the risks and benefits accurately as we understand them, with replicable studies.”

When further questioned about vaccinating his children for chickenpox and polio, Kennedy avoided giving a decisive answer, saying he preferred not to dispense personal advice. This isn’t the first time Kennedy has attracted attention concerning vaccines. In December, his associate, Aaron Siri, petitioned the FDA on behalf of an activist group to retract approval for a children’s polio vaccine, even as Kennedy professed support for the polio vaccine to senators at the time.

The ambiguity between Kennedy’s public stance and his personal choices regarding vaccines has been notable. In a January 29 confirmation hearing with the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy addressed inquiries about his family’s vaccination history by plainly stating, “All of my kids are vaccinated,” showing that his professional and personal actions might sometimes diverge.