Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the son of former U.S. Lawyer Basic Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy. However his views are a great distance from these of his Democratic kinfolk. In reality, he’s gone on file saying some fairly off-the-wall stuff about well being and vaccines that has made many Individuals fear about his appointment because the man chargeable for key federal well being companies, together with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention and the Meals and Drug Administration.
Kennedy’s cousin, Caroline Kennedy even tried to warn members of the Senate and the remainder of the nation about what a hazard he’s to the nation, calling him a “predator” who inspired kinfolk “down the trail of substance abuse suffered dependancy, sickness and loss of life” in a letter to the Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions.
“Bobby preys on the desperation of fogeys of sick youngsters — vaccinating his personal youngsters whereas constructing a following by hypocritically discouraging different dad and mom from vaccinating theirs,” she wrote.
However, on February 13, the Senate voted to substantiate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. because the twenty sixth Secretary of the US Division of Well being and Human Providers.
In case you haven’t heard a few of his controversial opinions, right here are some things RFK Jr. has stated about Black individuals and vaccines that ought to preserve you up at evening.
Black Individuals Have Totally different Immune Techniques
In a February 2021 interview, Kennedy prompt that Black individuals obtain vaccines on a special schedule than whites due to their superior potential to battle off illness.
“We shouldn’t be giving Black individuals the identical vaccine schedule that’s given to Whites, as a result of their immune system is best than ours,” he stated on the time.
Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) known as Kennedy out on his remark throughout his affirmation listening to and posted the head-scratching trade on social media. Though Kennedy would possibly assume he was paying Black people a praise, spreading misinformation like that would result in Black youngsters lacking out on doubtlessly live-saving vaccines.
African AIDS is Totally different From Western AIDS
Kennedy’s feedback about HIV and AIDS have been particularly troubling. He’s gone on file saying that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, was manufactured by the NIH and that AIDS is brought on by leisure drug use. However what’s much more troublesome is the truth that he believes the statistics that present the variety of individuals AIDS has killed in Africa are overstated.
In his 2021 guide, “The Actual Anthony Fauci,” Kennedy prompt that AIDS analysis numbers had been exaggerated in Africa to assist line the pockets of organizations who work on combating the illness there.
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) pressed Kennedy on the difficulty throughout his affirmation listening to, the place Kennedy responded, “I’m undecided.”
Individuals Are Higher Off Unvaccinated
Kennedy has been outspoken about his perception that vaccines trigger extra hurt than good. In a 2024 interview with Lex Fridman, he prompt that there isn’t any protected vaccine on the market.
“Vaccines are inherently unsafe,” he said firmly.
In keeping with NPR, vaccination charges in American colleges have fallen beneath the CDC’s suggestion of 95 % within the final 5 years, placing the inhabitants at larger danger for outbreaks.
After a baby in Texas died this week from measles – the primary loss of life from the illness within the nation for a decade – Kennedy stated, “Now we have measles outbreaks yearly,” in keeping with NBC Information.