Top Republican 'struggling' with RFK Jr.'s nomination over Kennedy's vaccine views

Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin pressed for a commitment from Kennedy to keep mifepristone on the market. Kennedy said he wouldn't get ahead of President Donald Trump on the issue.

"President Trump has not chosen a policy," Kennedy said. "I will implement his policy."

Trump shifted his stance on abortion access throughout the 2024 campaign, largely saying it's a state issue. He avoided speaking in depth on his view on the abortion pill. The Biden administration vigorously pushed back against legal challenges brought against mifepristone that arose after the fall of Roe v. Wade.

Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy and Rand Paul, both doctors, had a brief argument over the Hepatitis B vaccine for infants.

Cassidy defended the vaccine's efficacy amid Paul's questioning of some of its uses: "A vaccine on day one of life prevents chronic Hepatitis B 95% of the time."

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Kennedy shared a heated exchange on the question of vaccines and if Kennedy would state that they don’t cause autism and save lives.

Sanders asked about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy said he was unsure if the vaccines saved lives,

“if you show me science that shows that,” Kennedy said.

“Bobby, you say if I show you, you’re applying for the job,” Sanders said. “I mean, clearly, you should know this and that is the scientific community has established that. That COVID vaccines saved millions of lives and you’re casting doubt.”

Kennedy denied saying that he believed Lyme disease is a "militarily engineered bioweapon" despite admitting that he "probably did say" that during Wednesday's hearing.

"I've never believed that, senator," Kennedy said in response to a question
from Sen. Bill Cassidy. "What I said as that, if that we should always follow
the evidence."

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to people through the bite of blacklegged ticks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.