Vaccine Critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Approved As Health Secretary By US Senate

<p>Robert F. Kennedy Jr, nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy was approved as health secretary on Thursday by the Republican-controlled US Senate, despite concerns from the medical community over his history of spreading vaccine misinformation and rejecting established scientific facts.</p>
<p>Commonly known as “RFK Jr,” the 71-year-old secured the nomination with a narrow 52-48 vote, becoming the latest controversial addition to President Donald Trump’s cabinet. Former Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell was the sole Republican who voted against him, according to a report by AFP.</p>
<p data-start=”584″ data-end=”880″>Kennedy will now oversee a department with over 80,000 employees and a $1.7 trillion budget at a time when scientists warn of a rising threat of bird flu potentially triggering a human pandemic while declining vaccination rates have led to the resurgence of once-eradicated childhood diseases.</p>
<p>A former environmental lawyer, RFK Jr previously sued chemical giant Monsanto and criticised climate-change deniers for being traitors. In recent decades as well, he has highlighted multiple conspiracy theories from linking childhood vaccines to autism to making controversial claims about COVID-19 and its impact on different ethnic groups.</p>
<p data-start=”1207″ data-end=”1437″>His evolving stance on key conservative issues&mdash;particularly abortion, which he once supported but has since signaled openness to restricting&mdash;helped him gain the backing of Republican lawmakers despite their initial reservations.</p>
<h2 data-start=”1207″ data-end=”1437″>’Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) Initiative Brings More Stability For Kennedy</h2>
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<p data-start=”1439″ data-end=”1787″ data-is-last-node=””>During his confirmation hearings, Democrats raised concerns about Kennedy&rsquo;s financial disclosures, citing conflicts of interest tied to lucrative consulting fees from law firms suing pharmaceutical companies. They also highlighted allegations of sexual misconduct and his claims suggesting a connection between school shootings and antidepressants.</p>
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<p data-start=”0″ data-end=”257″>Kennedy gained more stability in his role by promoting his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative&mdash;a nod to Trump’s well-known slogan&mdash;focusing on addressing the country&rsquo;s chronic disease crisis by increasing accountability within the food industry.</p>
<p data-start=”259″ data-end=”452″>While these ideas appeal to both sides of the political spectrum, experts remain skeptical about his ability to implement them due to his contentious relationship with science-based evidence.</p>
<p data-start=”454″ data-end=”754″>Kennedy initially entered the 2024 presidential race as an independent candidate, drawing attention with a series of unusual personal revelations. These included his claim of recovering from a parasitic brainworm and a story from his daughter about him using a chainsaw to decapitate a dead whale.</p>
<p data-start=”756″ data-end=”909″ data-is-last-node=””>Last year, 77 Nobel Prize winners wrote an open letter to the Senate opposing his nomination, warning that his confirmation could endanger public health.</p>
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