Will Stone

Now, recently, Kennedy has softened his tone. After the election, he told NPR he's not going to take anyone's vaccines away. I asked Dr. Brett Giroir about this. He's a former assistant secretary for health in the first Trump administration.

He isn't taking a position yet, but he says senators need to ask questions because there's a lot an HHS secretary could do to undermine vaccines.

He isn't taking a position yet, but he says senators need to ask questions because there's a lot an HHS secretary could do to undermine vaccines.

He isn't taking a position yet, but he says senators need to ask questions because there's a lot an HHS secretary could do to undermine vaccines.

So many doctors are speaking out on social media and in op-eds in opposition. The biggest organized effort is a campaign that's gathered at least 15,000 signatures from physicians. That's being led by a progressive advocacy group called Committee to Protect Healthcare. Separately, the American Public Health Association has urged the Senate to reject Kennedy.

So many doctors are speaking out on social media and in op-eds in opposition. The biggest organized effort is a campaign that's gathered at least 15,000 signatures from physicians. That's being led by a progressive advocacy group called Committee to Protect Healthcare. Separately, the American Public Health Association has urged the Senate to reject Kennedy.

So many doctors are speaking out on social media and in op-eds in opposition. The biggest organized effort is a campaign that's gathered at least 15,000 signatures from physicians. That's being led by a progressive advocacy group called Committee to Protect Healthcare. Separately, the American Public Health Association has urged the Senate to reject Kennedy.

But some of the most prominent physician groups like the American Medical Association have not weighed in publicly. I reached out to the AMA about this. They did not respond. Dr. Rob Davidson with Protect Healthcare says he's not sure why they aren't taking a stance.

But some of the most prominent physician groups like the American Medical Association have not weighed in publicly. I reached out to the AMA about this. They did not respond. Dr. Rob Davidson with Protect Healthcare says he's not sure why they aren't taking a stance.

But some of the most prominent physician groups like the American Medical Association have not weighed in publicly. I reached out to the AMA about this. They did not respond. Dr. Rob Davidson with Protect Healthcare says he's not sure why they aren't taking a stance.

Well, that is a big part of his appeal, and many in public health say this is important, but this focus cannot be at the expense of preventing infectious diseases like measles. Dr. Jeffrey Flyer, a former dean of Harvard Medical School, says Kennedy has ascended to this point not in spite of his previous activism, but because of it.

Well, that is a big part of his appeal, and many in public health say this is important, but this focus cannot be at the expense of preventing infectious diseases like measles. Dr. Jeffrey Flyer, a former dean of Harvard Medical School, says Kennedy has ascended to this point not in spite of his previous activism, but because of it.

Well, that is a big part of his appeal, and many in public health say this is important, but this focus cannot be at the expense of preventing infectious diseases like measles. Dr. Jeffrey Flyer, a former dean of Harvard Medical School, says Kennedy has ascended to this point not in spite of his previous activism, but because of it.

And I should add that Flyer is a well-known researcher in the field of obesity.

And I should add that Flyer is a well-known researcher in the field of obesity.

And I should add that Flyer is a well-known researcher in the field of obesity.

Yeah, that's right. There's also a petition from a pro-Kennedy group called Maha Action, Maha being short for Make America Healthy Again. And that group says it has over 4,000 verified signatures from physicians and scientists. You see a lot of support for Kennedy online in the wellness and influencer space, physicians who are focused on diet and lifestyle.

Yeah, that's right. There's also a petition from a pro-Kennedy group called Maha Action, Maha being short for Make America Healthy Again. And that group says it has over 4,000 verified signatures from physicians and scientists. You see a lot of support for Kennedy online in the wellness and influencer space, physicians who are focused on diet and lifestyle.

Yeah, that's right. There's also a petition from a pro-Kennedy group called Maha Action, Maha being short for Make America Healthy Again. And that group says it has over 4,000 verified signatures from physicians and scientists. You see a lot of support for Kennedy online in the wellness and influencer space, physicians who are focused on diet and lifestyle.

One of them is Dr. Philip Ovedia, a Florida heart surgeon with a telemedicine practice.