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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be on Capitol Hill this week to garner support to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.Kennedy is facing backlash for pushing anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and for a recent report that one of his advisors petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine – a medical breakthrough that's considered to have halted the disease for decades.President-elect Donald Trump is trying to ease worries about his pick."I find him to be very rational; you're not going to lose the polio vaccine. That's not going to happen," President-elect Donald Trump said at a press conference on Monday.Trump also addressed concerns about vaccine skepticism."We're going to look into finding why is the autism rate so much higher than it was 20, 25, 30 years ago," Trump said.A transition spokeswoman for Kennedy said, "Mr. Kennedy believes the polio vaccine should be available to the public and thoroughly and properly studied."Polio survivors have expressed their concerns about Kennedy's nomination."I got it in 1953. I was 10 months old. I was paralyzed from my neck down for about a six-month period," said John Nanni, a polio survivor.Nanni, who has been in a wheelchair for the past 15 years due to the lasting effects of polio, described the fear and impact of the disease before the vaccine was available."Whole families and even blocks of homes were quarantined because of one case of polio, and people were frightened because, you know, catching polio was as easy as catching a cold," Nanni said.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, also a polio survivor, warned against undermining public confidence in proven cures."Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed – they're dangerous," McConnell stated.Political analysts describe this as a crucial week for Kennedy, noting that he needs significant support from senators and can only afford to lose four votes.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be on Capitol Hill this week to garner support to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy is facing backlash for pushing anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and for a recent report that one of his advisors petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine – a medical breakthrough that's considered to have halted the disease for decades.
President-elect Donald Trump is trying to ease worries about his pick.
"I find him to be very rational; you're not going to lose the polio vaccine. That's not going to happen," President-elect Donald Trump said at a press conference on Monday.
Trump also addressed concerns about vaccine skepticism.
"We're going to look into finding why is the autism rate so much higher than it was 20, 25, 30 years ago," Trump said.
A transition spokeswoman for Kennedy said, "Mr. Kennedy believes the polio vaccine should be available to the public and thoroughly and properly studied."
Polio survivors have expressed their concerns about Kennedy's nomination.
"I got it in 1953. I was 10 months old. I was paralyzed from my neck down for about a six-month period," said John Nanni, a polio survivor.
Nanni, who has been in a wheelchair for the past 15 years due to the lasting effects of polio, described the fear and impact of the disease before the vaccine was available.
"Whole families and even blocks of homes were quarantined because of one case of polio, and people were frightened because, you know, catching polio was as easy as catching a cold," Nanni said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, also a polio survivor, warned against undermining public confidence in proven cures.
"Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed – they're dangerous," McConnell stated.
Political analysts describe this as a crucial week for Kennedy, noting that he needs significant support from senators and can only afford to lose four votes.
English (US)