Kennedy Advances HHS Nomination Amid Vaccine Controversy and Party Divide
MedPage Today
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has progressed in his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) following a narrow Senate Finance Committee vote of 14-13, which saw unanimous Republican support against all Democratic opposition. As his nomination moves to a full Senate vote, Kennedy faces scrutiny regarding his contentious statements on vaccine safety and possible conflicts of interest tied to pharmaceutical lawsuits. Senator Bill Cassidy expressed concerns about Kennedy's past comments that challenge vaccine efficacy, mirroring sentiments from other Republican senators who have previously opposed similar nominees. Democrats, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, have voiced concerns about Kennedy's potential financial interests impacting vaccine regulations.
