Republican Sen. and former doctor Bill Cassidy (R-La.) was thoroughly mocked for sharing information about the safety of the measles vaccine — not long after he voted to confirm anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Texas is currently experiencing its biggest measles outbreak in three decades, and there’s also been a recent rise of cases in New Mexico. Cassidy posted a tweet on Tuesday noting the safety of the vaccine that has been used to prevent the disease for the past 62 years.
“This is a serious measles outbreak in Texas. The measles vaccine has been proven safe & effective since 1963,” Cassidy wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Although Cassidy provided accurate information to his followers, the post made him the subject of social media mockery.
Despite asking very skeptical questions about Kennedy’s vaccine views during his Senate confirmation hearings, Cassidy ultimately voted to confirm him.
Kennedy also reportedly promised Cassidy that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wouldn’t take down information on vaccine safety or statements that say vaccines do not cause autism. While he has denied being against vaccines, Kennedy has a history of questioning their safety and has espoused dangerous views, such as suggesting Black people need a different vaccine schedule and promoting the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism.
Cassidy later claimed he voted to confirm Kennedy because the candidate agreed to let the senator have input in filling key roles at the department, according to Politico.
However, the HHS Secretary may not stick to his promise, since he has now said he will investigate the childhood vaccine schedule that prevents measles, polio and other dangerous diseases, despite vowing not to do so during his confirmation hearings, according to The Associated Press.
Not surprisingly, many people mocked Cassidy for promoting vaccines while voting to appoint an anti-vaxxer to HHS ― including lots of doctors …
… and a fellow senator.
Others also chimed in …