Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attempted to walk back his past anti-vaccine and pro-abortion rights stances in his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday as he fielded questions from both sides of the aisle. The big picture: In his hearing,

Mr. Kennedy appears to have most Republicans behind him as he seeks the job of health secretary, though he couldn’t escape his past stances on vaccines and abortion.

The final round of committee hearings for Kennedy’s bid to be HHS Secretary was contentious from the start.

President Donald Trump has nominated Kennedy to be the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Medicare and Medicaid and helps enforce the Affordable Care Act commercial health insurance rules.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s alternating views on vaccines, reproductive rights and public health issues were a central focus at his first confirmation hearing Wednesday, with Democratic senators expressing dismay at his nomination and Republicans signaling he’ll likely have their support.

At Senate HELP committee, lawmakers grill Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on his record of vaccine skepticism and thoughts on transgender care.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s alternating views on vaccines, reproductive rights and public health issues were a central focus at his first confirmation hearing Wednesday, with Democratic senators expressing dismay at his nomination and Republicans signaling he’ll likely have their support.

That almost messianic obsession — which arrogantly defies the weight of decades of science supporting the benefits of vaccines — should be enough to sink Kennedy’s nomination. But if they need more, senators should also be troubled by the nominee’s longstanding financial stake in suing the pharmaceutical companies that produce those vaccines.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr sat before the Senate for 2 separate hearings, to decide the fate of his confirmation as secretary of HHS.

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

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

More dramatic questioning on vaccines in RFK Jr's second confirmation hearing. Bond/Simmons-Duffin/Stone/Webber