Kaufman about vaccines
While Cassidy was clearly frustrated and disappointed with Schwartz, she was clearly angry with Kaufman. Throughout the hearing, Kaufman tried to walk back his comments about vaccines, but his answers were unconvincing. In questions from Sanders, Kaufman confirmed that he once wrote that he would rather die than give his children the COVID-19 vaccine, but noted that he once recommended the vaccine to his wife’s mother.
When senators confronted him about his false claims and attacks on the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine, he pointed out that all three of his children had received it.
Cassidy, a hepatologist who treats patients with severe liver damage from hepatitis B, including those who die from the infection, did not let the problem subside. “Why do you repeat these lies?” Cassidy yelled, furiously banging her pen. Kaufman noted that he deleted the LinkedIn post in which he made the allegations and suggested they weren’t so bad because he was unambiguous.
Kaufman on mRNA research
The senators also highlighted Kaufman’s views on mRNA vaccine technology – considered a promising technology for rapidly developing new vaccines against new pathogens with potentially pandemic potential. But Kennedy despises this technology and spreads considerable misinformation about mRNA technology. Last year, he was heavily criticized for canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants development of mRNA vaccines, including pandemic preparation.
When asked about his support for mRNA technology, Kaufman confusedly said that he both supported Kennedy’s decision to cut research funding for mRNA technology and that he believed the United States should support more research into mRNA technology. Kaufman’s strange explanation was that he did not want to support research into the future use of mRNA technology until there is more research into the platform from which mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are designed.
“That means we can’t do two jobs at once,” Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) said when he heard that explanation. He then concluded his reaction to Kaufman’s argument by saying, “I don’t believe it.”
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) was equally confused. “I don’t understand how you want more research, but it’s good to cancel it.”
After blasting Kaufman over the hepatitis B vaccine, Cassidy said he was “annoyed” and “confused” that Kaufman said he supported eliminating mRNA research because there was not enough mRNA research.
