A Republican lawmaker and doctor was slammed Tuesday after commenting on how the childhood vaccine schedule should still be followed — despite voting to approve Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long claimed vaccine mandates should be lessened for American kids.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) declared that pediatric vaccines should be followed despite sweeping change this week that cut back the childhood vaccine schedule from 17 vaccines to 11.
Cassidy wrote the following statement on X:
"As a doctor who treated patients for decades, my top priority is protecting children and families. Multiple children have died or were hospitalized from measles, and South Carolina continues to face a growing outbreak. Two children have died in my state from whooping cough. All of this was preventable with safe and effective vaccines.
"The vaccine schedule IS NOT A MANDATE. It’s a recommendation giving parents the power. Changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors, and will make America sicker."
Social media users reacted his comments.
"You should have voted NO on RFK and you know it. Congrats on the consequences of your actions," Scott Santens, founder and CEO of ITSAfoundation, wrote on X.
"Remember that time you voted to confirm a committed lifelong anti vaxxer as HHS Secretary?" Dr. Neil Stone, an infectious disease clinician and scientist, wrote on X.
"Your vote for RFK Junior literally killed these children. No one should ever take you seriously as a medical professional ever again," Malcolm Nance, U.S. security expert, wrote on X.
"Geez I wonder who was in a position to stop this crazy man from becoming Secretary?" Professor and activist Lessig wrote on X.
"Senator, bring forth articles of impeachment. Your tweet here doesn't change anything," former senator Whitney Westerfield wrote on X.
"If only you had the power to do something about this…oh wait," columnist and editor Ian Haworth wrote on X.
"SIT DOWN! It's because of YOUR vote that children have measles now!" Democratic strategist Leslie Marshall wrote on X.