RFK Jr. Petitioned FDA in May 2021 to Revoke Covid Vaccine Authorization Amid Senate Confirmation Hearing

Jan 17, 2025, 10:35 PM

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated by President-elect Donald J. Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, petitioned the Food and Drug Administration in May 2021 to revoke the authorization of all Covid-19 vaccines. This request came during a deadly phase of the pandemic, when thousands of Americans were still dying weekly. At the time of the petition, half of American adults were receiving the vaccine, schools were reopening, and churches were filling. The petition, filed on behalf of Children's Health Defense, a nonprofit founded by Kennedy, argued that the risks of the vaccines outweighed the benefits and suggested that alternative treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, which had been deemed ineffective against the virus, were available. The FDA denied the petition within months, stating there was no basis to pull the vaccines from the market. Kennedy's past actions and statements on vaccines have sparked controversy and concern among public health experts, especially as he faces a Senate confirmation hearing for his nomination.