by Jeroslyn JoVonn
February 13, 2025
Robert F. Kennedy is the brand new secretary of the Division of Well being and Human Companies regardless of his controversial stance on vaccines.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an avid advocate towards vaccines, is now the Well being Secretary of the Division of Well being and Human Companies.
On Feb. 13, the Republican-led Senate voted to verify RFK Jr. as the top of a division overseeing almost 100,000 workers and 13 companies, based on The Hill. The affirmation vote for the Division of Well being and Human Companies secretary was 52-48, with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) being the one Republican to vote towards Kennedy’s appointment.
“In my lifetime, I’ve watched vaccines save hundreds of thousands of lives from devastating ailments throughout America and world wide,” McConnell mentioned in a press release explaining his vote. “I can’t condone the re-litigation of confirmed cures, and neither will hundreds of thousands of Individuals who credit score their survival and high quality of life to scientific miracles.”
The affirmation follows a party-line vote by the Senate Finance Committee final week to advance Kennedy’s nomination. On Wednesday, the total Senate voted 53-47 alongside occasion traces to finish debate and transfer the nomination ahead.
Kennedy, the founding father of one of many nation’s most distinguished anti-vaccine organizations, concludes a controversial three-month affirmation battle that examined the Republican Get together’s allegiance to President Donald Trump. For his nomination to be rejected, at the very least 4 Republicans must aspect with all Democrats.
Although Kennedy is a former Democrat, he has garnered assist from Republican lawmakers in Congress regardless of his previous feedback on abortion rights. His historical past of anti-vaccine advocacy confronted opposition from Democrats. Throughout affirmation hearings, Kennedy denied being anti-vaccine, although he refused to refute his claims linking vaccines to autism. As an alternative, he advocated for vaccine security, arguing that vaccines should not sufficiently examined—a declare consultants broadly dispute.
RFK Jr.’s “Make America Wholesome Once more” agenda emphasizes eliminating meals components and redirecting well being companies’ focus from infectious ailments to continual situations. He may even oversee the nation’s vaccine coverage, a key part of the almost $2 trillion federal well being portfolio.
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