Cassidy questions Kennedy over vaccine studies

Sen. Bill Cassidy repeatedly corrected Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a Senate hearing after Kennedy cited historical studies to argue that early 20th-century declines in some infectious-disease deaths occurred before vaccines were widely used; Cassidy said the cited papers omitted context showing vaccines later played an important role in reducing deaths.

Sen. Bill Cassidy and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed during a Senate hearing over the interpretation of historical studies about infectious-disease mortality. Kennedy cited two papers to argue that declines in certain disease deaths occurred long before vaccines were widely used. Cassidy said those citations omitted context showing vaccines became instrumental in reducing deaths once they were introduced. What happened: - Kennedy referenced a 2000 Pediatrics paper and a 1977 paper on measles to support his view that early mortality declines predated widespread vaccination. - Cassidy interjected during the hearing, noting the Pediatrics paper also states that reductions in vaccine-preventable diseases were "impressive" once vaccines were introduced, a point Kennedy did not read aloud. - Cassidy also said the 1977 measles paper used statistics from before the measles vaccine program and noted high measles case levels remained just before the 1960s vaccine program began. - After the hearing, Cassidy said deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases warrant attention, and no immediate procedural follow-up from the committee was announced. Summary: The exchange highlighted disagreement over how historical studies are cited and the role vaccines played in reducing disease deaths. Undetermined at this time.