TEC Brief: Fact check of the RFK Jr. Senate Hearing (9/4/25)

The Senate Finance Committee convened a hearing to question Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding the administration’s healthcare agenda. This proceeding represented a significant and timely opportunity for members of Congress to evaluate the trajectory of federal health policy and Secretary Kennedy’s early tenure as the nation’s top public health official. Over the course of several hours of testimony, Secretary Kennedy advanced a series of assertions on a wide range of issues—including public health, vaccines, and other areas of medical science. Many of these claims were misleading or demonstrably false, raising concerns about the accuracy of information being communicated from the highest levels of federal health leadership. The following briefing document distills and analyzes the most consequential false or misleading statements made during the hearing about vaccines. It is designed to provide clarity, ensure an accurate understanding of the scientific and policy context, and equip stakeholders with the information necessary to respond effectively.