Former Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the one Republican senator to oppose Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s affirmation as well being secretary, slammed the anti-vaccine activist as a “peddler of dangerous conspiracy theories” after Thursday’s vote.
“I’m a survivor of childhood polio. In my lifetime, I’ve watched vaccines save millions of lives from devastating diseases across America and around the world,” mentioned McConnell, who’s predicted to finish his political profession when his time period ends subsequent yr.
“I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles,” he continued.
Kennedy, now secretary of the Division of Health and Human Providers, is infamous for spreading anti-vaccine propaganda, dismissing the abundance of science proving the security and efficacy of immunization and repeatedly propping up the parable that vaccines trigger autism.
In his remarks Thursday, McConnell dismissed Kennedy’s characterization of himself as somebody who’s merely asking questions and advocating for extra analysis.
Tom Williams through Getty Photographs
“Individuals, parents, and families have a right to push for a healthier nation and demand the best possible scientific guidance on preventing and treating illness,” the Kentucky senator mentioned. “But a record of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions does not entitle Mr. Kennedy to lead these important efforts.”
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In his new function, Kennedy may have a number of avenues to rein in vaccine entry and uptake, together with by revising authorities vaccine advisories, requiring extra post-market research on vaccines, sowing public mistrust in immunization total and weakening authorized protections for vaccine makers.
McConnell — who contracted polio at two years previous and credit the vaccine with saving him from a illness that when killed or paralyzed over half one million individuals every year — spoke out in opposition to Kennedy as a nominee shortly after a media investigation in December discovered {that a} lawyer serving to Kennedy choose prime well being officers for the brand new Trump administration had petitioned the federal authorities to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine for kids.
The lawyer, Aaron Siri, could also be up for a distinguished job in Kennedy’s HHS, The New York Instances reported late final yr.
