Kennedy sidesteps vaccine questions, says don’t take his recommendation – NBC Los Angeles
Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday sidestepped a query about vaccines and whether or not he would select to vaccinate his kids right now in opposition to quite a few illnesses, saying, “I don’t suppose individuals must be taking medical recommendation from me.”
Kennedy’s remark was in response to Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., throughout a Home Appropriations Committee listening to.
Amid an ongoing measles outbreak in West Texas and different elements of the U.S. that is killed two kids and one grownup — all unvaccinated — Kennedy has pushed unproven treatments, together with a steroid known as budesonide, an antibiotic known as clarithromycin and cod liver oil, a complement excessive in vitamin A.
None are confirmed therapies for measles, consultants say. Excessive doses of vitamin A may cause nausea, vomiting and liver injury, particularly in young children.
Kennedy has, every now and then, provided tepid assist of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, however ceaselessly undercuts that message with false claims about harms and a lack of long-term safety.
Kennedy instructed Pocan he would “most likely” vaccinate his kids in opposition to the measles right now, however added, “My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.”
Pocan then requested Kennedy if he would vaccinate his youngsters right now in opposition to chickenpox and polio.
Kennedy refused to reply, saying, “I don’t need to give recommendation.”
Kennedy’s kids are vaccinated — a resolution he has beforehand stated he regrets.
Medical doctors broadly contemplate all three vaccines to be protected and efficient.
In her closing remarks, rating committee member Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., criticized his feedback about vaccines, emphasizing that each Kennedy and HHS “makes medical choices each day” and pointed to the 2 kids within the U.S. who died from measles this yr.
“You’re the secretary of HHS. You’ve gotten great energy over well being coverage,” she stated. “Actually horrifying that you’ll not encourage households to vaccinate their kids, measles, chickenpox, polio. Vaccines are one of many foundations of public well being. Vaccines, sure, save lives, and the truth that the secretary of Well being and Human Providers refuses to encourage kids to be vaccinated is a tragedy.”
Public well being consultants additionally pushed again on Kennedy’s response.
Whereas Kennedy has no medical coaching, “the issue is that the highest line of his job description is the nation’s chief well being strategist,” Dr. Georges Benjamin, govt director of the American Public Well being Affiliation, stated throughout a name with reporters Wednesday. “His job is to present individuals the very best recommendation that he can.”
“I’m wondering what it will be like if the transportation secretary refused to reply a query about whether or not he would fly,” stated Dr. Marissa Levine, a professor of public well being apply on the College of South Florida stated on the identical name.
The Home listening to kicked off what is anticipated to be a contentious day for Kennedy following price range cuts and mass layoffs at HHS. Kennedy is anticipated to testify within the afternoon earlier than the Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions.
Throughout Wednesday morning’s listening to, Kennedy defended the U.S. response to the measles outbreak, saying stated the company was doing a greater job than different nations.
He pointed to larger measles charges per capita in Mexico, Canada and Western Europe.
“Mexico has roughly the identical quantity with a 3rd of our inhabitants,” he stated.
There have been greater than 1,000 measles instances within the U.S. up to now this yr. Measles was declared eradicated from the nation in 2000. The one yr since then with extra instances was 2019.
Specialists say the numbers are doubtless an undercount as a result of many instances most probably go unreported.
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