Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as the brand new head of the US Division of Well being and Human Providers, launching a brand new period in US well being coverage after the one-time presidential hopeful brazenly questioned the protection of extensively used vaccines and promised to take away synthetic meals dyes from America’s meals provide.
Kennedy was accredited largely alongside social gathering strains, 52-48, after tense affirmation hearings through which he was questioned over the chance he might dismantle America’s vaccine infrastructure and his flip on abortion coverage.
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the previous Senate majority chief, was the one Republican to vote towards Kennedy, who has been a vaccine critic.
“I’m a survivor of childhood polio,” McConnell mentioned in an announcement. “In my lifetime, I’ve watched vaccines save thousands and thousands of lives from devastating ailments throughout America and world wide. I cannot condone the re-litigation of confirmed cures, and neither will thousands and thousands of Individuals who credit score their survival and high quality of life to scientific miracles.”
Kennedy, who first ran as a Democrat earlier than switching to a 3rd social gathering and ultimately suspending his marketing campaign to again Trump, will now have affect over the Meals and Drug Administration, which decides whether or not to approve cutting-edge medical therapies, and the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, which makes suggestions for vaccine use and public well being.
HHS additionally has a widespread attain into the every day lives and well being of Individuals by way of its management over federal insurance coverage programmes for aged and lower-income residents.
Republican Invoice Cassidy, chairman of the Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee, initially wavered on shifting Kennedy’s nomination to a full vote after which relented.
Cassidy, who’s a health care provider, mentioned Kennedy promised to contain the senator in hiring selections at HHS and that the company would give Congress a 30-day discover if HHS tries to reform public vaccine steerage. Plus, Kennedy promised he won’t change the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, an unbiased physique that units vaccine schedules and suggestions.
Kennedy sat for 2 affirmation hearings, each interrupted by protesters.
Kennedy rebranded his marketing campaign web site as Make America Wholesome Once more after he dropped out of the presidential race, a play on Trump’s Make America Nice Once more marketing campaign slogan. He drew help from vaccine skeptics, critics of components within the US meals provide and so-called “MAHA mothers” — lots of whom attended the hearings.
“Trump requested me to finish the continual illness epidemic and make America wholesome once more,” Kennedy mentioned to applause from his supporters within the Senate listening to room. “I’m in a novel place to do this.”
By Jessica Nix
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