During a tense confirmation hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced scrutiny from Senator Angela Alsobrooks regarding his previous comments on racial differences in vaccine schedules. Alsobrooks challenged Kennedy's assertion that Black individuals should have different vaccine schedules due to perceived stronger immune responses. While a Mayo Clinic study indicated variations in immune responses, its authors clarified that the data do not support changes in vaccination recommendations based on race. Experts highlighted that suggesting such differences could undermine vaccination efforts among Black children, an already vulnerable demographic.
"So what different vaccine schedule would you say I should have received? With all due respect, that is so dangerous," said Senator Alsobrooks.
"Dr. Richard Kennedy... says it's true the immune response to vaccination can vary by race, sex, and potentially dozens of other factors. But suggesting that African Americans should have different schedules would be twisting the data far beyond what they actually demonstrate."
"Dr. Carlos del Rio... says such a conclusion is taking it to a very unsafe place, in part because vaccination rates are already lower among Black children."
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