GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, a doctor, accuses RFK Jr. of ‘denying people vaccines’
WASHINGTON — Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) dramatically accused HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Thursday of denying COVID-19 vaccines to Americans who need them after recent moves by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to change recommendations.
Cassidy, a licensed gastroenterologist, read out emails from Georgia-based conservative radio host Erick Erickson and another friend who said they or their loved ones had been left in the lurch.
“I would say, effectively, we’re denying people vaccines,” Cassidy said.
“You’re wrong,” HHS Sec. RFK Jr. responded.
Erickson, whose wife Christy suffers from Stage 4 lung cancer, responded on X, saying: “Kennedy says I’m wrong, but my wife literally went to get the vaccine and CVS could not give it to her.”
The two also locked horns over cuts to mRNA research, the technology that powered President Trump’s successful Operation Warp Speed to create COVID-19 vaccines during the 2020 pandemic year.
While Kennedy said the president deserved a Nobel Prize for the quick rollout, Cassidy pressed the vaccine skeptic about past positions he’d held while working with the group Children’s Health Defense.
“You engaged in multiple lawsuits attempting to restrict access to the COVID vaccine,” Cassidy charged, referring to Kennedy’s work as an attorney for the organization.
“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.”
In Thursday’s hearing, Kennedy also defended his decision to fire the head of the CDC, Susan Montarez, as well as all seven members of its vaccine panel.
The HHS secretary claimed that he had replaced those members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with some “pro-vaccine” officials.
Kennedy also defended his decision to clear house at the CDC due to what he called “conflicts of interest” at the highest levels between senior officials and pharmaceutical or drug companies.
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When pressed by Cassidy about whether some of the new vaccine panelists at the CDC should be kept given their involvement in lawsuits against pharmaceutical manufacturers, Kennedy said their “bias” was no problem if it was disclosed publicly.
Cassidy, who chairs one of the two Senate committees that vetted Kennedy earlier this year, cast a decisive vote to advance his confirmation, in part because they had agreed to meet regularly for policy talks.
He also did so with the understanding that, as HHS chief, Kennedy had provided “assurances about vaccines and his platform to positively influence Americans’ health.”