Republican Senator Bill Cassidy criticized President Donald Trump's executive order from last week that targets the childhood vaccine schedule, describing it as "a stupid thing to do." In an interview on ABC News, Cassidy expressed concerns about the potential increase in the number of vaccinations required for children, stating that it would lead to more doctor visits and higher costs for families.
Cassidy emphasized that there is no evidence linking vaccines to autism, a claim made by Trump during the signing of the executive order. He noted that the combined MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine was designed to reduce the number of shots children receive and to ease the burden on parents. Cassidy argued that the executive order undermines the convenience and affordability of healthcare for families.
He also referenced Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health, who stated that there is no connection between vaccines and autism. Cassidy expressed concern that efforts should be focused on understanding the causes of autism rather than promoting misinformation regarding vaccines.
Cassidy previously supported the nomination of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, despite concerns about Kennedy's history with vaccine misinformation, citing assurances from Kennedy and the White House regarding vaccine policy.