CNN anchor Kasie Hunt snapped at Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) on her show "The Arena" on Thursday over his comments about vaccines.
Mullin argued that vaccines are ineffective because Americans suffer from higher rates of chronic illnesses today than they did in the 1950s. He also suggested that the prevalence of autism can be linked to the increased number of vaccines children are asked to take to attend public school.
The debate happened just hours after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, one that prompted calls for Kennedy to either resign or be impeached.
Hunt listed off the vaccine regimen that kids in Mullin's home state of Oklahoma are expected to get before attending school. The vaccines include polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and the measles, mumps, and rubella shot.
"If kids don't take this regimen, other kids around them are more likely to get sick, no?" Hunt asked.
"How many vaccines are we giving out today to our children? Mullins replied.
Hunt guessed the number is more than 70.
"And what was it in 1980?" Mullins replied, suggesting that a higher number of vaccines today means they are less effective at preventing diseases.
"That is misleading!" Hunt replied. "That total counts up all of the courses; say there are three courses for MMR, meaning you need three shots over the years to be vaccinated for MMR."
"It's also misleading because the number of diseases you're vaccinating against is around 20," she continued.
