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.
regarding vaccines and broader priorities associated with the so-called MAHA movement.
It situates that evolution within ongoing departmental actions and internal political dynamics.
These remarks contrast with his earlier public statements denying that any vaccines are safe and effective and suggesting the MMR was unsafe.
He also acknowledged last week that MMR might have averted a child’s death from measles.
These activities are occurring alongside substantial budget reductions across health agencies and revisions to vaccine policy.
The Trump administration, according to the piece, must balance maintaining MAHA supporters’ backing while abandoning certain MAHA priorities viewed as impractical or politically risky.