In sharply worded questions, Sen. Invoice Cassidy (R-La.) tangled with Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about mRNA vaccines and conflicts of curiosity amongst Kennedy’s handpicked panel of vaccine advisers.
Cassidy, a doctor, was reluctant to help Kennedy’s affirmation however finally solid the deciding vote for his nomination to advance out of committee after receiving assurances about vaccine coverage.
The at occasions fiery trade, throughout a Thursday Senate Finance Committee listening to, marks the strongest pushback and most contentious public trade between the 2 since Kennedy’s time period started.
Cassidy first requested Kennedy if he thought President Trump deserved the Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Velocity, the challenge that accelerated the event of COVID-19 vaccines and remedy throughout Trump’s first time period.
When Kennedy answered affirmatively, Cassidy pressed him about his opposition to mRNA know-how and why his company reduce greater than $500 million in contracts for mRNA analysis.
“As lead attorney for the Children’s Health Defense, you engaged in multiple lawsuits attempting to restrict access to the COVID vaccine,” Cassidy mentioned. “It surprises me that you think so highly of Operation Warp Speed when as an attorney, you attempted to restrict access to the COVID vaccine.”
Kennedy mentioned he supported the COVID-19 vaccine initially as a result of there have been so many individuals getting critically sick and low ranges of pure immunity to the virus.
He additionally mentioned he supported the trouble as a result of the vaccine was “perfectly” matched to the virus and there have been no mandates beneath Trump.
Cassidy then pressed Kennedy about conflicts of curiosity on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s vaccine advisory panel.
Kennedy mentioned he fired the panel’s earlier members as a result of that they had conflicts of curiosity with drug corporations that made them unable to take part as impartial advisers.
Cassidy requested if Kennedy thought it was a battle of curiosity to nominate panelists who’re paid professional witnesses in litigation in opposition to vaccine producers.
Kennedy mentioned it’s a “bias” however an allowable one as long as it’s disclosed.
Cassidy additionally learn from a letter he obtained from a doctor pal who mentioned sufferers 65 and older can’t get a COVID-19 shot.
“I would say effectively we are denying people vaccine,” Cassidy mentioned.
“You’re wrong,” Kennedy advised him.
