In a tense Senate hearing, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced critical questions from Democratic senators about the true number of deaths from COVID-19 and the effectiveness of vaccines.
"I don't think anyone knows for sure," he declared, blaming the Biden administration for "data chaos."
Senator Bill Cassidy also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest on the vaccine advisory panel, noting that many of the members appointed by RFK Jr. have previously served as paid witnesses in lawsuits against vaccine companies. Kennedy responded that there was no financial conflict, but there may be an overt bias.
The same session also discussed the potential effects of former President Trump's budget package on Americans' health, including cuts to Medicaid. While RFK Jr. said there would be no cuts, Warner disagreed, citing rural hospital closures and reports that the number of uninsured Americans is increasing by about 10 million.
This session highlighted the lack of transparency and uncertainties about the real number of victims of COVID-19, opening a new debate on the accountability of health authorities and the reliability of official data.