RFK Jr. Refused Repeatedly to Acknowledge That Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism, Preying on the Fears of Parents and Families
During his Senate HELP confirmation hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to say that vaccines don’t cause autism. Both Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) pressed RFK Jr. on his radical beliefs, noting that there is ample evidence that there is no correlation between vaccination and autism, but RFK Jr. refused to acknowledge the truth. Even as he tried to cover up his long history of pushing vaccine misinformation, he couldn’t deny his most pervasive lie which he has peddled to prey on parents and enrich himself: that vaccines cause autism.
IN THE NEWS
The Guardian: RFK Jr Dodges Clear Answers on Vaccines as Senate Grilling Enters Second Day
- Even the Republican committee chair, Bill Cassidy, a physician, appeared frustrated as he pressed Kennedy to unequivocally state that measles and hepatitis B vaccines do not cause autism. While Kennedy pledged to “apologize for any statements that misled people” if shown the evidence, he declined to directly acknowledge the existing scientific consensus.
STAT: At Confirmation Hearing, RFK Jr. Refuses to Say that Vaccines Don’t Cause Autism
- “Will you reassure mothers unequivocally and without qualification, that the measles and hepatitis B vaccines do not cause autism?” Cassidy asked. “If the data is there, I will absolutely do that,” RFK Jr. said. There are more than a dozen studies showing that vaccination is not associated with autism, including studies specifically focused on the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; studies focused on the mercury-containing ingredient thimerosal; and studies focused on the question of whether getting too many vaccines results in a higher risk of autism. All of them show that the shots do not increase rates of autism.
HuffPost: RFK Jr. Tried His Vaccine Dodge On Two Senators. It Did Not Go Well.
- Addressing senators wary of confirming him to be secretary of health and human services, Kennedy has claimed he simply wants to promote safety and transparency ― that, if the evidence shows vaccines are safe, he will support them. But the answer is a dodge, because it implies there’s an active scientific debate over vaccine safety. There is not. On Thursday, a group of senators questioning Kennedy made that clear.
Axios: 1 Big Thing: Cassidy Still Skeptical of RFK Jr.
- It was Kennedy’s last chance to make a case for himself before the Finance Committee votes on whether to advance his nomination to the floor as soon as next week, Victoria reports. Friction point: Cassidy, a physician and one of the most closely watched Republican votes, started out on a skeptical note, telling Kennedy that “it’s no secret I have some reservations on your past positions about vaccines and some other issues…” Kennedy tried to make similar assurances to other senators on the panel when asked about treatments like the HPV vaccine, repeating that if they “show me the studies” he would not curtail access to these treatments. That vaccine has been found to be safe and effective. By the end of the hearing, Cassidy appeared unconvinced, telling Kennedy, “I have been struggling with your nomination.”
ABC: Sanders, Kennedy Share Heated Exchange on Vaccines
- Sanders asked about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy said he was unsure if the vaccines saved lives, “if you show me science that shows that,” Kennedy said. “Bobby, you say if I show you, you’re applying for the job,” Sanders said. “I mean, clearly, you should know this and that is the scientific community has established that. That COVID vaccines saved millions of lives and you’re casting doubt.”
Los Angeles Times: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Refuses to Reject Falsehoods About Vaccines and Autism in Confirmation Hearing
- Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician who chairs the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, opened the hearing with tough questions for Kennedy. He asked him to reject a long-discredited theory that vaccines cause autism. Kennedy refused to flatly do so. ‘It’s no secret I have some reservations on your past positions on vaccines and other issues,’ Cassidy told the nominee.
Healthcare Finance News: RFK Jr.: Senators Want Definitive Answers on Vaccines, Autism and Medicaid
- On Thursday, Cassidy told Kennedy he has constituents who partly credit the HHS nominee for their decision not to vaccinate their child. “I’m hearing from them,” said Cassidy, a physician who specialized in liver disease, “and they want you confirmed.” Cassidy said, “Bobby, once said you were pro vaccine.” Cassidy wanted Kennedy to say “unequivocally” that he supports measles and hepatitis B vaccines, and that they do not cause autism. “If the data is there, I will absolutely do that,” Kennedy said. “If you show me the data, I will be the first person to assure the American people they need to take those vaccines.” Cassidy said the data has been there for a long time, before he came to Congress 16 years ago.
COMMENTARY
Senator Bernie Sanders: RFK Jr. wants evidence that vaccines do not cause autism. The evidence is there. He refuses to see it. [@SenSanders, 1/30/25]
White House Reporter for Politico Adam Cancryn: “Cassidy has spent nearly his entire time at this hearing begging RFK to just say: vaccines don’t cause autism. RFK has refused at every turn.” [@adamcancryn, 1/30/25]
Strategy Professor and Director of Healthcare at Kellogg Craig Garthwaite: “This is just letting RFK off the hook. The data are already there. This isn’t a conditional statement. RFK has spent years actively casting doubt … it frankly doesn’t matter what he says now when he’s on the precipice of power.” [@C_Garthwaite, 1/30/25]
Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America Matthew Gertz: “RFK Jr. having had a platform today before the Senate to defend kook autism-vaccine claims is already a public health disaster that makes the best-case scenario him being martyred because he wouldn’t stop telling the ‘truth.’” [@mattgertz.bsky.social, 1/30/25]
Vice President of Health Policy at Center for American Progress Andrea Dacus: “RFK Jr can’t help himself….Sen Cassidy basically begs him to sound like a reasonable person but he can’t do it. Insists that there is evidence that (somehow Sen Cassidy hasn’t seen?) vaccines cause autism.” [@andreaducas.bsky.social, 1/30/25]
Health and Science Journalist Liz Szabo: “Vaccines don’t cause autism, no matter what RFK Jr. says. ‘Every dollar and hour spent trying to debunk a conspiracy theory is a dollar and an hour lost that could have been spent trying to understand how to help families.’” [@lizszabo.bsky.social, 1/30/25]
Pharma Reporter at Endpoints News Max Bayer: “Cassidy is effectively pleading with RFK to refute the autism-vaccine link. Kennedy won’t do it.” [@maxonwifi, 1/30/25]
MomsRising: “Thank you @SenBillCassidy for speaking out about the importance of vaccines & raising concerns about RFK Jr.’s unfounded medical views. We have 7,482 members in Louisiana, and moms KNOW we cannot trust RFK Jr. to protect our children’s health. We are turning to you to step in and protect our families. Please vote NO!” [@MomsRising, 1/30/25]
Health Reporter at the Hill Nathaniel Weixel: “Bill Cassidy IMPLORING RFK Jr to say measles vax doesn’t cause autism, and Kennedy just won’t do it.” [@NateWeixel, 1/30/25]
Public Citizen: “The science is clear: vaccines do not cause autism. What they DO cause is immunity to deadly diseases. RFK Jr. refuses to believe in this evidence.” [@Public_Citizen, 1/30/25]