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By Monica Sager and Gabe Whisnant
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Senator Bernie Sanders questioned Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his opposition to childhood vaccinations, highlighting infant onesies with anti-vax slogans sold by Children's Health Defense, a company founded by the Health and Human Services secretary nominee.
"You're coming before this committee, and you say you're pro-vaccine, and yet your organization is making money selling a child's product to parents for $26, which casts fundamental doubt on the usefulness of vaccines," Sanders said during Kennedy's Wednesday confirmation hearing.
Newsweek reached out to the Children's Health Defense via phone for comment.
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Why It Matters
Kennedy appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday for his confirmation hearing to become President Donald Trump's HHS head. Another hearing will be held on Wednesday before the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee.
He faces potential confirmation challenges due to accusations of voter fraud in New York, and his stance on abortion could also be seen as problematic. His confirmation requires a simple majority in the Senate, meaning he could be blocked if all Democrats and three Republicans vote against him.
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What To Know
The onesies are sold by Kennedy's Children's Health Defense. The company's vision is to have a "world free of childhood chronic health conditions caused by environmental exposures."
Kennedy is listed on the site as the founder, former chairman of the board and chief legal counsel.
According to a post on the Children's Health Defense website from November 15, the online store sells "Truth Gear," which is a product of the public "wakening to the reality that Big Pharma, Big Food and Big Chemical have captured our governing agencies."
"By prioritizing profits over people, the agencies charged with protecting our health are failing to do their jobs," the post says. "In the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, the 'safe and effective' vaccine myth propagated by the government and industry is shattering."
The store sells slogans relating to anti-vaccination on bottles, stickers, tank tops, hoodies, shirts and more. The merchandise is called "Vaxxed III: Authorized to Kill" and "I'm a Defender," which refers to the organization's work as being a "defender of truth, freedom and children's health."
There are onesies on the Children's Health Defense website at the time of writing with slogans like "unvaxxed, unafraid," "pharma is not my mama," and "No vax. No problem."
"Can you tell us now that you will, not that you are pro-vaccine, that you are going to have your organization take these products off the market," Sanders said.
Kennedy responded that he had "no power over the organization" and that he had resigned.
"You founded that. You certainly have power," said Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.
When Sanders asked Kennedy specifically if he supported the onesies, the potential health secretary laughed and responded that he was "supportive of vaccines."
Kennedy said he wouldn't "take away anybody's vaccines" in an interview with NBC News in November 2024. He rejected the notion he is "anti-vaccine."
However, when asked if any safe and effective vaccines were on the market, Kennedy told podcaster Lex Fridman in July 2023, "No."
In 2020, Kennedy expressed concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines being fast-tracked by the Trump administration for approval during the pandemic. He told NBC News recently that he knew in "May of 2020 that the vaccines were not going to protect against transmission because I was actually reading the monkey studies."
"I want good science," Kennedy said Wednesday.
What People Are Saying
Caroline Kennedy, in a video on YouTube Tuesday: "In other words, [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] is willing to enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer and which has been safely administered to millions of boys and girls."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at the Senate hearing Wednesday: "Should I be so privileged as to be confirmed, we will make sure our tax dollars support healthy foods. We will scrutinize the chemical additives in our food supply. We will remove financial conflicts of interest from our agencies. We will create an honest, unbiased, gold standard science at HHS, accountable to the president, to Congress, and to the American people. We will reverse the chronic disease epidemic and put the nation back on the road to good health."
**Scott Presler, a key proponent in President Donald Trump's win in Pennsylvania, on X, formerly Twitter: "**I will dedicate my time to defeating Senators that do not confirm RFK Jr., even those that are Republican. May I remind you that our work helped to defeat Bob Casey in PA. I'll even take it a step further & work to defeat Ranked Choice Voting in Alaska. Try me."
What Happens Next
On Wednesday, Kennedy will continue to be questioned in front of two committees. The vote for his confirmation will be held later.
Update 1/29/25, 1:16 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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