Democratic senator blasts RFK Jr’s vaccine theories ahead of confirmation hearings: ‘Kids will get killed’
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Conspiracy theorist’s anti-vax stance has many fearing effects of him leading HHS. Robert F Kennedy Jr is facing a predictably skeptical reception from senators on Capitol Hill as he pursues a bid to become the next Health secretary for incoming president Donald Trump.
On Sunday, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy attacked a conservative activist for calling him “deranged” in response to some of the criticism RFK jr has faced. “We don't have to treat conspiracy theorists like RFK Jr. with kid gloves. It's simple. He's spent his career fighting school vaccine programs. If they atrophy, kids will get killed,” tweeted the senator.
He added: “[E]ven if RFK Jr. doesn't legally weaken school vaccine requirements (and he might!), his elevation to HHS Secretary will amplify his conspiracy views. When vaccine rates drop because of RFK Jr.'s conspiracy spreading - kids get killed.”.
As evidence, Murphy pointed to a measles outbreak in Samoa and pinned the blame for the disastrous consequences on Kennedy’s activism against the measles jab in the island nation in 2018. “In 2018 RFK Jr. travelled all the way to Samoa to help local efforts to undermine confidence in children's vaccines. It worked. Measles vaccinations plummeted and a year later 83 were dead and 1800 were hospitalized. Mostly little kids,” wrote Murphy.
The senator concluded: “MAGA wants to shut down dissent by claiming that we are "inciting violence" when we tell the truth about the stakes of Trump's nominees and policies. But the truth is RFK wants to impose policies that will kill our kids. Don't be scared to say what's true.”.