Senate Republicans draw a red line on vaccines even as they advance RFK Jr. Sen. Bill Cassidy said he secured a slew of promises from RFK Jr. not to undermine public health

https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/04/rfk-jr-confirmation-vote-analysis-hard-line-on-vaccines-gop-senators-warn-trump-hhs-nominee/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Bd4Doxk63B-65JLfUM8-7dHPfsHG9bS38D0hobDyZBbcFhRpKq_ePWnicTs56okvXj-0bOLEZ9CZb7KvtGXiXLinM_g&_hsmi=345746664&utm_content=345746664&utm_source=hs_email Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to be confirmed as HHS secretary after his nomination cleared the Senate Finance Committee yesterday. The committee voted for Kennedy 14-13 along party lines, sending his nomination to the Senate floor for a vote, probably next week. It had not been clear how Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (above, left), a physician who expressed misgivings about Kennedy last week, would vote. Ultimately, Cassidy said that the nominee won him over with certain promises, and promised himself to watch Kennedy closely when it came to vaccines. But some health experts are skeptical that Cassidy will be able to prevent Kennedy from taking actions that would weaken vaccine recommendations or sow doubt about their value. https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/rfk-jr-vaccines-kennedy-confirmation-hearing-vaccination-policy-hhs-secretary/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--E2wM46x8EIqlmiBFAkXKNbiuiB2PRQlerlMhLjxv537Ty5XanQMRG_hBURatJHYepKDKUn_mni899p8By5o12eCpPGw&_hsmi=345746664&utm_content=345746664&utm_source=hs_email Read more from STAT’s Lizzy Lawrence about the promises that Kennedy made to Cassidy to win his vote. RFK Jr. likely to win confirmation to top Trump health role as key GOP senator says he’ll vote yes Sen. Bill Cassidy said RFK Jr. and the administration committed to protecting vaccines https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/04/rfk-jr-confirmation-vote-finance-committee-republican-senator-bill-cassidy-key-player/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-875w0K6fVDkNgfP_KkJKkRpqyyJjtenYNZ7wvGpfSUTuDCiXq9UeS-p39LJDp4m787grolvW--chBNERV-RMxSBU9E8g&_hsmi=345746664&utm_content=345746664&utm_source=hs_email