Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a gastroenterologist who voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in February, isn't exactly garnering praise for his condemnation of Kennedy's latest controversial health recommendations.
Cassidy, whose support during Kennedy's confirmation hearings looked tentative at best due to his status as a medical doctor clashing with RFK Jr's antivax views, ultimately ensured the controversial confirmation by the full Senate.
Cassidy co-founded the Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic, a clinic providing free dental and health care to the working uninsured and also created a private-public partnership to vaccinate 36,000 greater Baton Rouge area children against Hepatitis B at no cost to the schools or parents.
RFK Jr's appointed vaccine advisory committee voted to eliminate the longstanding universal recommendation that all U.S. babies receive a hepatitis B shot at birth.
This controversial decision suggests a new approach to the vaccine, which public health experts warn could lead to a resurgence in cases of the incurable virus.
On Friday, Cassidy posted on X, "As a liver doctor who has treated patients with hepatitis B for decades, this change to the vaccine schedule is a mistake. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective. The birth dose is a recommendation, NOT a mandate. Before the birth dose was recommended, 20,000 newborns a year were infected with hepatitis B. Now, it’s fewer than 20. Ending the recommendation for newborns makes it more likely the number of cases will begin to increase again. This makes America sicker. Acting CDC Director O’Neill should not sign these new recommendations and instead retain the current, evidence-based approach."
The responses to this post were fast and furious, with Meidas Touch replying, "You did this. This is all your fault. You will live with the consequences of your actions forever — and unfortunately, so will all Americans."
Republicans Against Trump also replied, asking, "Do you regret voting to confirm RFK Jr., who’s implementing these dangerous policies?"
Popular resister account CathyNotToday said, "I watched the confirmation hearing live and was impressed with your line of questioning and thought FINALLY a Republican with a spine It was therefore incomprehensible that you STILL voted to confirm him Either you are grossly incompetent or totally morally bankrupt Or both 'Severe Consequences: Babies infected at birth have about a 90 percent chance of developing a chronic, lifelong infection, which silently damages the liver for decades and increases the risk of liver failure and cancer'"
"You voted to confirm RFK Jr.! What did you expect to happen[?]" replied writer Sam Deutsch.