Just confirmed by the United States Senate, the Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Tuesday a room full of federal health workers that plans to “investigate” if the moment of children’s vaccines and anti -depression medications They are among several “possible factors” in the problem of the nation with chronic diseases.
“Nothing will be out of the limits,” Kennedy told the big crowd on Tuesday.
The campaign style speech at the headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services was intended only to staff, although a live link was distributed. The staff was invited to meet him later, and an invitation sent by email previously sent to the HHS workers pointed out “The selfies are welcome!”
Kennedy’s selfies offer with staff occurred in the midst of generalized shots and resignations throughout the federal government were underway, even in HHS. Agency officials have not provided details about layoffs, including the impact that could be.
According to people familiar with the effort, some 700 employees in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were fired at the end of last week.
Kennedy urged staff to maintain an “open mind” on Tuesday while planning to convert the agency’s vast resources to visit the issues considered as established.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s election to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies during his confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office building in Washington, DC. January 29, 2025.
Allison Cena/EPA through Shuttersock
“We will get the representatives of all points of view to study the causes of the drastic increase in chronic disease,” Kennedy said. “Some of the possible factors that we investigated were formally taboo or insufficiently examined.”
Then he gave a list of these “possible factors” to investigate, including the children’s vaccine schedule and “SSRI and other psychiatric drugs”, which refer to medicines approved by the federal government that help treat conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Studies do not suggest that vaccines or ISR are guilty of chronic diseases, such as autism or obesity. Critics argue that Kennedy’s rhetoric could create more doubts and public distrust of these medications.
Also in its list was electromagnetic radiation, herbicides and pesticides, ultraprocessed foods, artificial foods, allergies, microplastics and durable chemicals used in the production of nonstick trays. Scientists are actively exploring the possible impacts on the health of environmental toxins, and some studies suggest that they could play a role in chronic diseases.
Kennedy’s will to visit the children’s vaccine calendar seems to disagree with his testimony of the Senate in January in which he told skeptical legislators that he specifically supported federal recommendations.
“Support vaccines. Support the vaccine schedule. Support for good science,” Kennedy testified last month.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated for the president of the United States, Donald Trump, for the Secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies during his Senate Finance Committee, on January 29, 2025.
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It is widely recommended to babies and young children as a way to prevent children from being exposed to potentially mortal diseases such as measles and protecting other children in school.
Kennedy has previously pressed a discredited statement that vaccines cause autism, although numerous large -scale studies do not find connection.
ABC’s Soo You and Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.
