In rapid words questions, Sen Bill Cassidi (R-La.) Health Secretary Robert F. Concerted with Kennedy Junior, which is about the conflict of the vaccine of vaccines and the conflict of interest between Kennedy’s vaccine advisors.
Cassidi, a physician, was reluctant to support Kennedy’s confirmation, but eventually cast a decisive vote for his nomination to get out of the committee after receiving assurances about the vaccine policy.
During the hearing of Thursday’s Senate Finance Committee, the fiery exchange marks several times, the strongest pushback between the two and the most controversial public exchange since the onset of Kennedy’s tenure.
Cassidi first asked Kennedy if he felt that President Trump deserves the Nobel Prize for Operation Taana speed, which the project intensified the development of covid vaccines and treatment during Trump’s first term.
When Kennedy replied positively, Cassidi pressed him about opposition to MRNA technology, and his agency cut the contracts for MRNA research by more than $ 500 million.
“As a prominent lawyer to protect the children’s health, you are engaged in several cases, which attempt to restrict access to the covid vaccine,” Cassidi said. “It surprises me that you think a lot about the operation taunting speed as a lawyer, you tried to restrict access to the covid vaccine.”
Kennedy said he initially supported the covid vaccine as many people were getting seriously ill and low levels of natural immunity for the virus.
He also said that he supported the effort as the vaccine corresponds to the virus “completely”, and there were no mandates under Trump.
Cassidi then pressed Kennedy about the conflict of interest on the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel.
Kennedy said he fired previous members of the panel as he had a conflict with drug companies that made him unable to participate as independent advisors.
Cassidi asked if Kennedy wondered that it was a conflict of interest to appoint panelists, who are paid specialist witnesses in litigation against vaccine manufacturers.
Kennedy said that it is a “bias”, but is acceptable until it is disclosed.
Cassidi also read from a letter received from a physician friend, which said that patients could not get covid shot to patients aged 65 and above.
“I would effectively say that we are denying the vaccine,” Cassidi said.
“You’re wrong,” Kennedy told him.
