What does RFK Jr.'s nomination mean for the HPV vaccine?

On Tuesday the Senate Finance Committee voted to move forward with Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services.  His nomination now heads to the Senate floor, where he’s expected to be confirmed.  As the secretary of the HHS, Kennedy would have oversight over 11 agencies including the FDA, the CDC and the National Institutes of Health. Kennedy has come under fire from both Democrats and Republicans for some of his controversial beliefs – the most contentious being his extensive history of anti-vaccine work and rhetoric. Kennedy has in particular focused on Gardasil, the HPV vaccine. A lawyer by trade, he has helped facilitate hundreds of potential lawsuits aimed at pharmaceutical company Merck, which manufactures the drug.  The vaccine is nearly 100% effective against cancers caused by the human papillomavirus – most notably cervical cancer.  Kennedy has criticized the vaccine, calling it ‘dangerous and defective’ and claiming it can ‘increase the risk of cervical cancer.’ Guest:  Dr. Linda Eckert, a professor in the University of Washington School of Medicine, Women's Health Division of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. A leading expert in cervical cancer prevention, she's written a new book titled ENOUGH: Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer.  Relevant Links: NYT: Committee Sends R.F.K. Jr.’s Health Secretary Nomination to Full Senate Associated Press: RFK Jr. kept asking to see the science that vaccines were safe. After he saw it, he dismissed it BBC: Fact-checking RFK Jr's views on health policy Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.