WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
once said there are no vaccines that are safe and effective. On Wednesday, he seemed to have changed his tune.
Across two Senate hearings, Kennedy noted that as health secretary, he funded the development of new vaccines, green-lit new shots for patients, asserted flu vaccines are preventive care, and even urged “every child to get the MMR,” a shot he previously suggested wasn’t safe. Last week, he acknowledged the shot could have saved the life of a child who died of measles.
Kennedy’s agenda continues to make waves across American health care, as his department pursues a broad crackdown on alleged fraud and seeks to upend Americans’ relationship with ultra-processed foods , all after major cuts across health agencies and a reworking of vaccine policy. But the about-face expands to a number of core MAHA issues — chemicals in food and the government’s relationship with industry among them.
Kennedy Jr., now serving as health secretary, publicly modified earlier statements questioning vaccine safety.
During two Senate hearings he described actions consistent with support for vaccination: funding vaccine development, approving new vaccines, characterizing influenza vaccination as preventive care, and encouraging MMR vaccination for children.
He had earlier said no vaccines were safe and effective and previously suggested MMR was unsafe.
Some movement leaders who supported the administration have expressed growing skepticism about the administration’s direction.
This creates a need to navigate between courting the movement’s base and moderating policy commitments.