5 days after being sworn in as the brand new Secretary of Well being and Human Companies, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Feb. 18 gave a speech through video hyperlink to employees members of the Division of Well being and Human Companies, making clear that he would use his submit to problem extensively accepted norms round drugs and science, however promising HHS staffers that he would take heed to their enter.
As POLITICO’s Chelsea Cirruzzo and Adam Cancryn wrote on Wednesday afternoon, “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. implored federal well being company employees on Tuesday to ‘let go’ of preconceived notions of him and begin from ‘sq. one,’ however he additionally promised that ‘nothing goes to be off limits’ in his pursuit to cut back persistent illness.” They quoted Kennedy as stating that “A few of the doable elements we are going to examine had been previously taboo or insufficiently scrutinized. I’m prepared to topic all of them to the scrutiny of unbiased science.”
Cirruzzo and Cancryn famous that “Kennedy’s feedback — his first prolonged remarks since being confirmed final week — come as Washington reels from firings and funding cuts pursued by the Elon Musk-led Division of Authorities Effectivity. Among the many businesses Musk has focused are these at HHS, leaving profession officers and lawmakers anxious in regards to the affect on public well being. Kennedy made no point out of the dismissals,” they famous, “solely hinted towards his earlier feedback threatening the roles of federal company employees proof against his reforms. “Those that are unwilling to embrace these sorts of concepts can retire,” they quoted him as saying, and noting that he added that he trusts “the idealism of the general public who work at HHS.” The speech was supposed to be seen stay by HHS staffers, however quite a few members of the press discovered methods to entry the deal with stay as nicely.
In the meantime, the New York Occasions’s Sheryl Homosexual Stolberg and Christina Jewett wrote on Wednesday afternoon that “In a sign of how he plans to make use of his new authority, Mr. Kennedy additionally made clear that he would prod the division, and the ‘Make America Wholesome Once more’ fee established by President Trump that he’ll lead, to prioritize subjects he cares about however that he stated had been ‘previously taboo or insufficiently scrutinized’ by mainstream scientists.”
Additional, they quoted “Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine skilled at Youngsters’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who’s amongst Mr. Kennedy’s most vocal critics,” as saying that “the remarks urged that Mr. Kennedy did, in actual fact, have preconceived notions. Dr. Offit additionally famous that there was a spread of explanations for persistent illness that Mr. Kennedy didn’t point out: genetics; modifications within the intestine microbiome, the microbes that populate the intestinal tract; the usage of sure medication; and the truth that People reside longer and thus dealing with persistent illnesses that include age,” they added.
“He’s saying that every one the scientists earlier than him who’ve weighed in on the validity of those causes have all been within the pocket of someone — however not him, he’s going to look backstage, he’s going to inform us what the actual fact is,” Dr. Offit advised the Occasions reporters.
With regard to supposed coverage modifications, ABC Information’s Anne Flaherty on Wednesday afternoon quoted Kennedy stating throughout his speech that “We are going to convene representatives of all viewpoints to review the causes for the drastic rise in persistent illness. A few of the doable elements we are going to examine had been formally taboo or insufficiently scrutinized.” And he or she wrote that “He then gave an inventory of those ‘doable elements’ to analyze together with the childhood vaccine schedule and “SSRI and different psychiatric medication,” referring to federally accredited medication that assist deal with such circumstances as despair and nervousness. Research don’t recommend vaccines or SSRIs are in charge for persistent sicknesses, resembling autism or weight problems. Critics argue Kennedy’s rhetoric might create extra doubt and public distrust of those medicines,” she added. And, she wrote, “Additionally on his record was electromagnetic radiation, herbicides and pesticides, ultra-processed meals, synthetic meals, allergic reactions, microplastics and long-lasting chemical compounds used within the manufacturing of non-stick pans. Scientists are actively exploring the doable well being impacts of environmental toxins, with some research suggesting they might play a task in persistent sicknesses.” And, she wrote, “Kennedy’s willingness to revisit the childhood vaccine schedule seems to be at odds along with his Senate testimony in January wherein he advised skeptical lawmakers that he particularly supported federal suggestions.” At the moment, she famous, he testified to the Senate that “I assist vaccines. I assist the vaccine schedule. I assist good science.”
Flaherty quoted Kennedy as extending an olive department to HHS staffers, telling them, “Let’s all depoliticize these points and reestablish a standard floor for motion, and renew the seek for existential fact with no political impediments and no preconceptions. I promise to be prepared to be mistaken.”
