Both Republicans and Democrats clash with RFK Jr. on vaccines, CDC turmoil

Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell picked up the questioning from Cassidy and continued to scrutinize Kennedy's stance and actions concerning vaccines.

The Washington senator brought up a chart showing the number of deaths following the introduction of vaccines since the 20th century.

"You're a charlatan. That's what you are. You're the ones who conflate chronic disease with the need for vaccines," she said.

"You are perpetrating hoaxes," Cantwell later added.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, whose vote was crucial in confirming Kennedy, expressed concerns over conflicts of interest among new members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee.

In June, Kennedy removed all 17 sitting members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replaced them with his own hand-picked members, many of whom have expressed vaccine-skeptic views.
"What I am concerned about is that many of those who you've nominated for ACIP have received revenue as serving as expert witnesses for plaintiffs, attorneys, suing vaccine makers," Cassidy said.

Cassidy continued, "Now, one of my colleagues in another setting alleged that you seem more interested in settlements than science. If we put people who are paying witnesses for vaccine, people suing vaccines, that actually seems like a conflict of interest real quickly. Do you agree with that?"

Kennedy disagreed saying it may be a "bias" but not a conflict of interest.

Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet grilled Kennedy on his firing of all 17 members of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, and the panel's upcoming review of childhood vaccine schedule recommendations later this month.

The exchange turned heated as both men raised their voices.

"I'm asking the questions, Mr. Kennedy, on behalf of parents and schools and teachers all over the United States of America who deserve so much better than your leadership," Bennet yelled. "That's what this conversation is about."

"Senator, they deserve the truth, and that's what we're going to give them for the first time in the history of that agency," Kennedy responded.

RFK Jr. doubled down on the false accusation that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines cause serious harm, including death among young people.

This question has been heavily studied in the wake of the rare risk of myocarditis among younger adults.

The data do not support a link between mRNA vaccines and sudden cardiac death among previously healthy young people.

-ABC News' Sony Salzman