Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee last Thursday, and what followed was a startling display of misinformation and revisionism about the nation’s COVID-19 response.

Kennedy, long known for his skepticism of vaccines, made so many misleading statements that even congressional aides in the room appeared visibly stunned. Some laughed outright at his explanations; others simply looked bewildered.


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Vaccine Denialism, Again

In his opening remarks, Kennedy reaffirmed his belief that there is no such thing as a “safe and effective” vaccine — directly contradicting decades of public health research and the consensus of the scientific community.

He also repeated discredited claims that immunization carries hidden dangers, doubling down on the very arguments that have eroded trust in vaccines and fueled a resurgence of preventable diseases.


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Antidepressants and School Shootings

Kennedy denied ever linking antidepressant use to school shootings, despite having publicly announced weeks earlier that HHS would investigate such an association. The contradiction drew sharp questions from senators who accused him of playing politics with mental health.


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COVID Shot Access

The secretary also claimed that “anybody can still get COVID-19 shots,” despite widespread reports from at least 16 states where pharmacies — confused by shifting HHS guidance — have been turning people away unless they have a prescription.

The reality, public health experts say, is that FDA restrictions have created uneven access to the fall boosters, leaving healthy adults and children in many states unable to get vaccinated without additional hurdles.


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The CDC Firing

Perhaps Kennedy’s most unbelievable claim concerned his recent ousting of CDC Director Susan Monarez. He testified that Monarez admitted during a meeting that she was “untrustworthy,” a claim so implausible that aides behind the senators openly chuckled.

Monarez’s departure triggered a wave of resignations from four senior CDC scientists, deepening fears that the agency is being gutted at a critical moment.


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The Bigger Picture

While many lawmakers pressed Kennedy on specifics, the broader concern remains: the nation’s top health official is spreading misinformation from one of the government’s most powerful platforms.

His remarks reinforced fears that vaccine access and pandemic preparedness are being undermined by ideology rather than science.

As one senator put it after the hearing, “This isn’t just a matter of bad policy. It’s a matter of public safety.”