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BumRushDaShow

(150,075 posts)
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 03:15 PM Feb 22

RFK Jr.'s Stunning Claim About Black People And Vaccines Sparks Concern From Medical Experts

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Huff Post

Feb 22, 2025, 03:00 AM EST


From COVID-19 conspiracy theories to confusion on the facts about Medicare and Medicaid to refusing to say that vaccines aren’t linked to autism, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s February confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill were anything but smooth for someone who is hoping to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

While his history of anti-vaccine remarks was a major talking point throughout the hearings, his beliefs were also front and center during a heated exchange in which Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) brought up a comment that Kennedy once made about vaccinations and the Black community. In 2021, Kennedy had said, “We should not be giving Black people the same vaccine schedule that’s given to whites, because their immune system is better than ours.”

Alsobrooks asked Kennedy to explain what he meant by that remark, and he went on to reference a “series of studies” while saying research shows that “Blacks need fewer antigens.” (For the record, experts say that this is not true.) “Right now, how vaccine schedules are tailored is based on things like your age, your exposure risk, if you have other chronic underlying health conditions ― but race isn’t one of them, and there isn’t research that suggests that it should be,” Joel Bervell, a recent medical graduate and medical myth-buster on social media, told HuffPost.

What especially bothered Bervell about Kennedy’s exchange with Alsobrooks was the fact that he doubled down on his comment from 2021. Kennedy could have used this as an opportunity to admit that he needs to do more research and understand the vaccine schedule, “but instead, he defended what he said, which I think, for me, that’s where the problem lies in,” Bervell told HuffPost. “Not necessarily the fact of the misinformation is out there, but the fact that he wasn’t willing to at least confront it or admit that onstage.”

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-jrs-stunning-claim-about-black-people-and-vaccines-sparks-concern-from-medical-experts-ano_l_67b7878ae4b05145b9c4f067

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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yardwork

(66,046 posts)
1. All of these people are incredibly racist.
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 03:18 PM
Feb 22

Klarkashton

(3,237 posts)
2. Kennedy's very specialty is to site studies that were
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 03:19 PM
Feb 22

totally discredited. " I was shown a study by the Cleveland Clinic blah blah blah"

ananda

(31,435 posts)
3. Yet another example... every single thing Republicans do is about race.
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 03:28 PM
Feb 22

They even use Evangelical Christianity to counteract Black gospel
Christianity, along with their other targets of hate.

FakeNoose

(37,068 posts)
4. I wish we had a complete news blackout surrounding BobK
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 04:13 PM
Feb 22

Just sayin'

BumRushDaShow

(150,075 posts)
5. I wish too but he is now in charge of
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 04:19 PM
Feb 22

NIH
CDC
SSA
FDA
CMS
IHS
PHS
ASPR

Evolve Dammit

(20,429 posts)
6. Did anyone ask him about heroin use/addiction, cutting off whale's head and taking bear roadkill to Central Park??
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 04:25 PM
Feb 22

During the "confirmation" process. Would seem to be pertinent to his overall "fitness." Aside from not having a medical BACKGROUND.

malthaussen

(18,058 posts)
7. Good point. I mean, Hesgeth had to promise not to drink, Junior should have promised to avoid drugs and game. n/t
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 06:15 PM
Feb 22

IronLionZion

(48,294 posts)
9. He promises to avoid letting people get prescription medicines
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 07:20 PM
Feb 22

same diff

IronLionZion

(48,294 posts)
8. He'll fire the experts who say it's not true
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 07:19 PM
Feb 22

nothing compares to the merits and qualifications of Trump officials. Do your own research!

How can this idiot have Bobby Kennedy for a father?

Omaha Steve

(105,014 posts)
10. AFTER a review by forum hosts LOCKING
Sat Feb 22, 2025, 07:42 PM
Feb 22

Analysis & opinion. Can be posted in E&OA or GD.

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