Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the most famous vaccine skeptic in recent years and an environmentalist turned attorney. Pitching a fit Recently, he made waves for his tirade at a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing. Much of the blame for his exclusion has fallen on his inflammatory statements related to COVID-19 vaccines and widespread public health policies. Kennedy’s claims certainly raised eyebrows and started some doubts. People began to doubt his credibility and the likely negative effects of his assertions on public health.
At the hearing, Kennedy announced that his department will be making a major announcement in the coming days regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. He was aggressively attacked for his earlier comments. One of the most egregious examples of 2021 incorrectly called the COVID-19 vaccine the “most dangerous vaccine ever produced.” This claim has even more recently been refuted by numerous health experts and public health organizations.
Cancellation of mRNA Vaccine Research Funding
The biggest news during the hearing was Kennedy’s announcement that he had pulled funding for mRNA vaccine research. This research is important because it has served as the basis for the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines. His decision has received ample criticism, particularly in light of the worldwide strides to stop the pandemic by vaccinating as many people as possible.
Kennedy disclosed that he brought on board David Geier—a notorious and long-time vaccine opponent. Together, they are working on a study to find possible connections between vaccines and autism. He claimed that Geier had access to the Vaccine Safety Datalink, which he referred to as “the biggest repository for vaccine information.” Public health advocates warned this was a retreat. For these reasons, they contend that studies such as these are usually not sufficient in scientific rigor and may even cause unjust public alarm.
“You’re just making stuff up to scare people, and it’s a lie.” – RFK Jr.
Kennedy’s approach to vaccine research has often been criticized for its reliance on anecdotal evidence rather than peer-reviewed scientific studies. His companionship with Geier raises further questions about his credibility in the scientific community. Geier has been rightly condemned due to his extreme, anti-vaccine beliefs.
Controversial Statements on Public Health Policies
Beyond his anti-vaccine comments, Kennedy was already flying high from the media coverage sparked by his attacks on the practice of fluoridating drinking water. He announced that he would encourage centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) to stop promoting fluoridated drinking water. He inaccurately linked it to increased cancer and health risks. Hundreds of health organizations contest this argument. In doing so they double down on the claim that fluoridation is safe and effective in preventing tooth decay.
Kennedy cited his recent claim that antidepressants are connected to violent crime, as well. Following the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on August 27, he blamed the shooting on antidepressants. He alleged that these drugs could be associated with aggressive and violent actions. These types of statements raised open rage from multiple members of the Senate during the hearing.
When challenged by Senator Tina Smith on his incendiary comments linking antidepressants to increased school shootings, Kennedy resorted to bullying language.
“You are being dishonest right now,” – RFK Jr.
This exchange was a great illustration of the entire tenor of this hearing and illustrated Kennedy’s combative nature towards widely-accepted public health messages.
Disputing COVID-19 Death Toll
Kennedy’s inflammatory remarks on the COVID-19 pandemic were another point of concern for lawmakers. Senator Mark Warner wanted to know if that was indeed true that he accepted the new standard of once million American deaths directly relatable to COVID-19. Kennedy’s reply was noncommittal.
“I don’t know how many died,” – RFK Jr.
He further claimed that “there was so much data chaos coming out of the CDC,” suggesting that misinformation clouded the actual death toll from COVID-19. This assertion is at odds with mountains of data collected by dozens of health organizations that have painstakingly tracked COVID-19-related deaths.
Kennedy lauded Operation Warp Speed’s quick vaccine production as a “genius” operation. Unfortunately, he contributed to the growing misinformation campaign about vaccine safety and efficacy. His ironic turn is part of a growing movement among vaccine diabolists. While they appreciate the progress with vaccine technology, they slam the implementation.
As many health experts have noted, these missives will do more harm than good in eroding public trust in vaccines. They worry that it will weaken confidence in public health interventions. Prompting accountability and truthful representation of scientific data have flourished in the wake of Kennedy’s statements.
