The questioning comes after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced grueling testimony on Thursday to secure the Secretary of Health and Human Services position

RFK Jr. claimed he is not “anti-vaccine” and appeared unfamiliar with key aspects of healthcare insurance programs in his confirmation hearing.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he wanted "gold standard science" on vaccines, but when presented with compelling research, he cited reasons to doubt it.

WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a tense exchange during his confirmation hearing Wednesday to examine the RFK Jr.'s qualifications to be the country's top health official.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kennedy would head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees many of the country’s health agencies, from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If approved, Kennedy will control a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, hundreds of health clinics, vaccine recommendations and health insurance for roughly half the country.

Kennedy Jr. faced a plethora of tough questions on vaccines, abortion and public health policy during his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday as President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Kennedy Jr. rejected characterizations of him as an anti-vaxxer in a Senate hearing Wednesday where senators will weigh his confirmation as Health and Human Services Secretary—as his former billionaire running mate threatens to fund primary challenges against lawmakers who vote against him.

What are the current CDC recommendations for vaccines? Here's the list from the government website as of Jan. 30, 2025.