Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate and longtime vaccine skeptic, defended his controversial health agenda before a congressional committee on Thursday. The hearing, which drew sharp questions from lawmakers, focused on Kennedy’s opposition to vaccine mandates, his promotion of alternative medicine, and his claims linking vaccines to chronic diseases.
Kennedy, who has built a political following around his health activism, argued that federal agencies and pharmaceutical companies have suppressed evidence of vaccine risks. ‘We need transparency and independent research to restore public trust,’ he told the committee, citing studies that mainstream scientists have widely discredited.
Public health experts and Democratic lawmakers pushed back, noting that Kennedy’s claims contradict decades of peer-reviewed research. ‘Misinformation costs lives,’ said Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), citing CDC data showing vaccines prevent millions of deaths annually. Republican members were more receptive, with some echoing Kennedy’s criticisms of ‘Big Pharma.’
The hearing highlights Kennedy’s unusual role as a third-party candidate influencing health policy debates. Analysts say his campaign could force both parties to address vaccine skepticism, an issue that gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic.