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title: RFK Jr. Doubles Down on Vaccine Skepticism In Contentious Senate Hearing | TIME
description: U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faced pointed bipartisan questioning at a rancorous three-hour Senate committee hearing on Thursday.  Kennedy tried to defend his efforts to pull back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and explain the turmoil he has created at federal health agencies.
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og:description: U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faced pointed bipartisan questioning at a rancorous three-hour Senate committee hearing on Thursday.  Kennedy tried to defend his efforts to pull back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and explain the turmoil he has created at federal health agencies.
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twitter:description: U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faced pointed bipartisan questioning at a rancorous three-hour Senate committee hearing on Thursday.  Kennedy tried to defend his efforts to pull back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and explain the turmoil he has created at federal health agencies.
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* Politics

# RFK Jr. Doubles Down on Vaccine Skepticism In Contentious Senate Hearing

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## Video: RFK Jr. Doubles Down on Vaccine Skepticism In Contentious Senate Hearing

[Watch (HLS stream): RFK Jr. Doubles Down on Vaccine Skepticism In Contentious Senate Hearing](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/takCRocG.m3u8) (3:24)

![RFK Jr. Doubles Down on Vaccine Skepticism In Contentious Senate Hearing](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/takCRocG/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2025-09-04. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faced pointed bipartisan questioning at a rancorous three-hour Senate committee hearing on Thursday.  Kennedy tried to defend his efforts to pull back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and explain the turmoil he has created at federal health agencies._


---

Sep 4, 2025 9:20 PM UTC

---

## More From This Series

[All Videos](https://time.com/video/)

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### RFK Jr. is Sworn In as Trump's Health Secretary

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is Confirmed as Trump's Health Secretary After a Close Senate Vote](/video/3Y7Dh8xV/)

### Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is Confirmed as Trump's Health Secretary After a Close Senate Vote

[RFK Jr. Grilled on Vaccines in Contentious Senate Hearing](/video/2fqRpYmV/)

### RFK Jr. Grilled on Vaccines in Contentious Senate Hearing

---


## Transcript

It takes over three months to get a proper authorization. Senator Kennedy to. The committee will come to order. You promised that you would not take away vaccines from anyone who wanted them. You just changed the classification of the Covid vaccine. I'm not taking them away from people, Senator. It takes it away if you can't get it from your pharmacist. Well, most Americans are going to be able to get it from their pharmacy for free. Most Americans will be able to get it from their pharmacy. First question is everyone who wants it? That was your promise. Mr.. Kennedy. I never promised that I was going to recommend products for which there is no indication.

When you said. And I know you've taken $855,000 from pharmaceutical companies. Senator, did you hold up a big sign saying that you were lying when you said that because you are the one who said you would not take them away? Well, you're talking about there's a big difference, Senator, between established science and the scientific establishment, which has been co-opted by the pharmaceutical. So you're telling me you're telling the American people that the American Medical Association, representing hundreds of thousands of people, have been co-opted and that they should not trust their doctors and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American, by the way, just for the record, every single Republican I don't mean to be political here.

Mr. chairman has received PAC money from the pharmaceutical industry. Are they all corrupt as well? And I'm telling you, the American Heart Association has been co-opted by the food industry. But you said everybody is corrupt but you. Is that what we're looking at? I don't think so. And I think the issue now, I don't even know what you're talking about. Well, I think you're doing what you're talking about. I don't know what you're talking about. I'll. I'll submit. You just want to show both your ads. Or do you want to hear a real answer to your question, Mr. Secretary? You you choose to know answers to questions with some colleagues, and.

I'm willing. To give. You the answer. I will give you the answer. Someone should have asked you. Maybe President Trump should have asked you, are you a trustworthy person? And we should have waited for an answer. Then let's move. On. I don't know what you're talking about. You're talking gibberish. Mr. Secretary, let me speak slowly and clearly so that you can understand me through my New Mexico. And then give me a chance. Does this help? Can you understand me. Secretary Kennedy, I assume you are aware of these disturbing reports of the gun gunman's motives? Yes. And, you know, I understand that some people may have concerns about new medical breakthroughs, but those people don't have the world's top medical experts working under them.

Under them? You've been over HHS for seven months now. Have you ever been briefed by CDC career immunization officials to discuss your concerns? I I've been, by the way, everybody, every member of this panel has criticized President Trump and demonized him. Have you ever have you ever been. Complicit in the assassination attempts on President Trump? Sir, I'm asking the questions. You are the witness.

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