Today Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before two Senate committees and distanced himself from record-breaking measles outbreaks in the United States, despite his role as overseeing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the many agencies in the HHS umbrella.

His testimony capped off a busy week on Capitol Hill, where he made seven appearances.

Kennedy was there to discuss the proposed 2027 HHS budget, but after failing to appear in front of lawmakers for many months, during which Kennedy made broad changes to national recommendations for childhood vaccines, appeared shirtless in promotional videos with Kid Rock, and withheld millions of Medicaid funds from “blue” states like Minnesota and California, Kennedy found himself facing questions from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

During his opening statements to both committees, Kennedy focused on nutrition, food dyes, and the chronic disease epidemic, Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) topics that are seen as less controversial than anti-vaccine rhetoric that could punish Republicans during upcoming midterm elections.

But senators repeatedly pivoted to two issues Kennedy couldn’t shake: the punishing costs of prescription drugs, and the ongoing US measles epidemic.

‘I have nothing to do with the measles outbreak’

Throughout the Finance Committee meeting, Kennedy said he had nothing to do with large ongoing measles outbreaks across the country, and implied it was rising international rates of the virus seeding outbreaks in the United States.

The whole world had their worst measles year.

“I have not visited Mexico or Europe. I have nothing to do with the measles outbreak. A lot of nations have lost their elimination status; [the] outbreak has nothing to do with me,” Kennedy said. “The whole world had their worst measles year.”

Kennedy went on to explain that most unvaccinated Americans who contracted measles last year were over the age of 5 years, meaning their parents decided to not vaccinate well before Kennedy assumed his role at HHS.

But David L. Hill, MD, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the issue is nuanced.

“When 95% of the population is vaccinated, sporadic cases from outside the country don’t spread as they are doing now, where rates in many communities have fallen below that level,” Hill told CIDRAP News. “So, anyone who is spreading misinformation about the safety or effectiveness or measles vaccine shares in the responsibility for these outbreaks, especially if they have the ear of the public.

“All of our public health professionals have an obligation now to speak out clearly and forcefully in favor of universal measles vaccination, which we know saves lives.”

During a short but tense back-and-forth with Colorado Sen Michael Bennet, Kennedy said he was “on the record” supporting the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, stating correctly that it is 97% effective in preventing measles in recipients.

But when Bennet turned the questioning to flu vaccines for schoolchildren, and the high pediatric influenza death toll seen last year, Kennedy said the annual shots “simply don’t work.”

“Do you agree that 89% of children who died from flu were unvaccinated?” Bennet asked.

“I don’t know the exact number,” said Kennedy.

“That is the exact number,” Bennet said.

Kennedy says Schwarz will act independently

During an afternoon Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee meaning, Sen Bernie Sanders from Vermont said Kennedy’s misunderstanding of American health care begins with his basic misunderstanding of germ theory.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who cast the deciding vote to confirm Kennedy last year, did not question Kennedy on any issues related to vaccines during the Senate Finance meeting. Cassidy is running for re-election, and Trump has recently endorsed his opponent.

During the HELP committee meeting, however, Cassidy became more pointed, and asked Kennedy how the HHS was preparing the country for a potential influx of vaccine-preventable diseases from travelers who will attending the World Cup this summer.

“We have done better than any other country controlling the measles outbreak,” Kennedy repeated. “It’s a global outbreak.”

Last year the CDC recorded 2,286 measles cases, a more-than-three-decade high. US cases have already topped 1,700 this year.

Cassidy then asked Kennedy if he would support Erica Schwartz, MD, JD, MPH, President Donald Trump’s latest nominee to head the CDC, and allow her to promote vaccines in spite of anti-vaccine “political appointees” in the agency. Kennedy said Schwartz would be able to act freely and independently as head of the CDC.

Delaware Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester had a tense exchange with the secretary, asking if Kennedy has explained the significance of the measles outbreak to the president.

“Have you alerted the president to tell Americans to get the measles vaccine?” asked Blunt Rochester.

Kennedy dismissed her. “That’s my job,” said Kennedy. “And I do my job.”