It is day 228 of the second Trump administration and earlier today the man Donald Trump pledged could go wild on health tried tried to defend his record in a fiery hearing on Capitol Hill. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. got into yelling matches over and over with senators about his handling of the CDC, his stance on vaccines, and his overall approach to the health of the American people. My colleague Ryan Nobles has a look at all of it today. Tonight, the grilling. Sir, you're a ...

COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations & Access - CDC panel to review recommendations for COVID vaccine, suggesting it's only needed for older and high-risk Americans [2] - New recommendations potentially limit access to COVID boosters at pharmacies for some individuals, varying by state [3] - Concerns raised about potential difficulties in scheduling COVID boosters, especially for vulnerable populations like children with asthma [4] CDC Leadership & Policy - Former CDC Director alleges dismissal for refusing to pre-approve vaccine advisory panel recommendations, citing concerns about anti-vaccine rhetoric [4] - Secretary Kennedy defends revamping the CDC, claiming critical mistakes were made during the pandemic, leading to disastrous policies that harmed small businesses and civil liberties [6] - Secretary Kennedy questioned about the accuracy of COVID-19 death toll data due to "data chaos" from the CDC [6][7] Political & Public Opinion - Secretary Kennedy faces scrutiny regarding his views on vaccines, particularly debunked theories linking them to autism, while he claims to be "pro-medicine" but aware of potential harm [5] - White House expresses confidence in Secretary Kennedy despite heated hearing and criticism of his views on COVID-19 vaccines [8][9] - Former CDC director warns that Secretary Kennedy is dangerously undermining the institution by not being grounded in evidence and data [7]

Vaccine Policy Debate - Senator White believes Secretary Kennedy's policies will hinder children's access to vaccines, potentially leading to fatalities [1] - Dr Manarez, former CDC director, alleges she was instructed to pre-approve vaccine advisory panel recommendations filled with anti-vaccine proponents [3] - Secretary Kennedy denies instructing Dr Manarez to approve recommendations irrespective of scientific evidence [4][5] - The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will convene to decide on critical vaccines, impacting vaccine access [6] - Concerns arise over the dismissal of 17 scientists and doctors from the committee and their replacement with non-experts and vaccine skeptics [7] Conflicts of Interest & Credibility - The American Academy of Pediatrics warns of the politicization of the committee, jeopardizing children's health [8] - Secretary Kennedy claims the American Academy of Pediatrics is conflicted due to funding from vaccine manufacturers [9] - Secretary Kennedy asserts that Congress has been investigating the committee for 23 years due to conflicts of interest, leading to depoliticization and the inclusion of diverse scientists [15] Public Health Concerns - Respiratory viruses like RSV are on the agenda for the upcoming advisory meeting, raising concerns about infant vulnerability [13][14] - Senator White expresses concern that policy changes may increase infant vulnerability to illnesses [14] - Senator White questions the acceptable number of preventable child deaths resulting from the current agenda [17] - Secretary Kennedy notes an increase in infant mortality during the Biden administration [18]