Top Republican 'struggling' with RFK Jr.'s nomination over Kennedy's vaccine views

Sen. Maggie Hassan, of New Hampshire, asked Kennedy a series of questions about parts of Medicare, over which Kennedy seemed to stumble.

Kennedy incorrectly said Medicare Part A was mainly for primary care or physicians. In fact, Medicare A covers inpatient care in hospitals, critical access hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.

He failed to describe what Medicare Part B is, which covers medically necessary services and supplies, and preventive services.

"Mr. Kennedy, you want us to confirm you to be in charge of Medicare, but it appears that you don't know the basics of this program," Hassan said.

Sen. Josh Hawley asked Kennedy if he would rescind a rule from the HHS issued under the Biden administration over transgender discrimination,

Under the Affordable Care Act, physicians in the U.S. who receive federal funding must perform medical treatments based on sex, even if they do not support it.

In 2021, the Biden administration issued a rule saying this policy included transgender people.

Kennedy said he would, adding, “That rule is anti-science.”

Kennedy cast doubt on the lifesaving benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines, saying he doesn't think that "anybody" can say the vaccines saved millions of lives.

A 2022 study from the Yale School of Public Health and University of Maryland Medical School estimated the vaccine saved 3 million lives and prevented 18 million hospitalizations.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., asked Kennedy about that study, as well as President Donald Trump's comments calling the vaccine "one of the greatest miracles of the ages," and asked if he agreed that vaccines saved millions of lives.

"I don't know. We don't have a good surveillance system, unfortunately," Kennedy said.

-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett

Kennedy, seeking to defend against past anti-vaccine remarks, said he wants HHS under his potential leadership to have a "gold standard" and "evidence-based science."

"And if you show me where I'm wrong on this, show me a single statement I made about science that is erroneous," he said.

Kennedy made a number of false or unfounded statements regarding vaccines, pesticides, and more. A fact-check of some of his claims during his first confirmation hearing can be found here.

Democrats, and some Republicans, are confronting Kennedy throughout this hearing and have been pointing to data that shows vaccines like those for measles, polio, HPV and more are safe.