Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Scrambles as Bernie Sanders Presses Him on If the COVID Vaccine Saved Lives: 'I Don't Know'

Despite being adamant the day prior that he was not "anti-vaccine" in order to secure votes to confirm him as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, the independent politician, 71, seemed flustered upon hearing the Vermont representative's question.
"Was the COVID vaccine successful in saving millions of lives?" Sanders, 83, poignantly asked.

"I don't know," Kennedy Jr. noted after a pause. "We don't have a good surveillance system, unfortunately. I don't think anybody can say that. If you show me the science…"
The answer did not seem to satisfy Sanders. "Bobby, if you're applying for the job, clearly you should know this," he pointed out. "The scientific community has established that the COVID vaccine saved millions of lives. You are casting doubt. That is really problematic."

The Democratic socialist also brought up the father-of-seven allegedly pushing the conspiracy theory that there's a link between vaccines and autism.
"Vaccines do not cause autism," Sanders emphasized while citing multiple studies. "Do you agree with that?"
"I'm not going to go into HHS with any preordained," Kennedy Jr. said before Sanders interjected, "It's a simple question, Bobby!"

"That is a very troubling response," the New York native pointed out.
During day one of the hearing, Sanders displayed a baby onesie from Kennedy Jr.'s foundation, The Children's Health Defense.
"One of them is titled 'unvaxxed, unafraid.' Next one — and they're sold for 26 bucks apiece, by the way — next one is 'no vaxx, no problem,'" he explained. "Your organization is making money selling a child's product to parents, which casts fundamental doubt on the usefulness of vaccines."

"Senator, I have no power over that organization. I'm not a part of it. I resigned from the board," Kennedy Jr. alleged about the item.
"That was just a few months ago!" Sanders scolded. "Are you supportive of these onesies?"
"I'm supportive of vaccines," Cheryl Hines' husband told the Senate Finance Committee.

During Kennedy Jr.'s opening statements on Wednesday, January 29, he staunchly claimed he was not opposed to Western medicine.
"I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish and nobody called me anti-fish," he claimed. "I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care. All of my kids are vaccinated."