Ron Brownstein: “As Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. intensifies his drive to reverse decades of vaccine policy, the medical profession joins a growing list of fields and institutions facing unprecedented threats from the federal government under President Donald Trump. But this time the administration may have chosen an adversary with more capacity to fight back than the law firms, major universities and media organizations it has targeted so far.”

“To many medical professionals, Kennedy’s hostility toward vaccines represents the greatest threat to the nation’s public health system in memory.”

“Jerome Adams, who served as US surgeon general during President Donald Trump’s first administration, is calling for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be fired as controversy continues to swirl over his handling of vaccine approvals,” CNN reports.

President Trump said he’s supportive of vaccines on Friday, breaking with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Axios reports.

Said Trump: “I think you have to be very careful when you say that some people don’t have to be vaccinated.”

He added: “They’re just, pure and simple — they work. They’re not controversial at all. And I think those vaccines should be used.”

“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sister and nephew called on the secretary to resign Friday after he questioned the safety of vaccination while testifying before a congressional committee,” Axios reports.

“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to announce that pregnant women’s use of an over-the-counter pain medication is potentially linked to autism in a report that also will suggest a medicine derived from folate can be used to treat symptoms of the developmental disorder in some people,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The report, expected this month from the Department of Health and Human Services, is likely to suggest as among the potential causes of autism low levels of folate, an important vitamin, and Tylenol taken during pregnancy.”

“Polling showing that a majority of President Donald Trump’s voters support vaccines was shared with several Republicans lawmakers’ staffers in a closed-door meeting Wednesday,” NBC News reports.

The poll was conducted by veteran Republican pollsters Tony Fabrizio and Bob Ward and concluded “that there is broad unity across party lines supporting vaccines such as measles (MMR), shingles, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (TDAP), and Hepatitis B.”

For members: Why Does Trump Let Kennedy Push a Fringe Agenda?

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tumultuous tenure atop the US Health and Human Services Department is starting to wear on some prominent Republicans,” CNN reports.

“But so far, President Donald Trump is not one of them.”

Said Trump: “I heard he did very well today.”

He added: “It’s not your standard talk. I would say that, and that has to do with medical and vaccines. But if you look at what’s going on in the world with health, and look at this country also with regard to health — I like the fact that he’s different.”

Axios: Takeaways from RFK Jr.’s fiery Senate appearance.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at a hearing:

CASSIDY: Do you agree with me that President Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed?

KENNEDY: Absolutely.

CASSIDY: But you just told Sen. Bennet that the Covid vaccine killed more people than Covid.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) announced her state will require health insurers operating in the state to cover vaccines recommended by the state’s department of public health, Axios reports.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, raised eyebrows when he suggested some of Kennedy’s vaccine views were jeopardizing public safety and eroding medical progress, Axios reports.

Said Barrasso:  “I’ve grown deeply concerned.”

He added: “There are real concerns that safe, proven vaccines like measles, Hepatitis B and others could be in jeopardy, and that would put Americans at risk and reverse decades of progress.”

“Barrasso does not usually break from his party, and as a leadership member, could be reflecting broader concerns within the GOP caucus.”

MSNBC: Senators tear into RFK Jr. over vaccine restrictions in explosive hearing.

“Facing hostile questions from senators in both parties, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dug in Thursday on some of his most controversial actions since taking office in February, fiercely interrupting senators on both sides to push back on their onslaught,” Punchbowl News reports.

“Eleven of the 13 Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee called for Kennedy to resign or be fired before the hearing even began, a very clear signal about how contentious the session was going to be. And it then lived up to that preview, with Kennedy and numerous senators getting into angry exchanges…”

“Yet Kennedy continued to push conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 vaccine, spurring sharp criticism from even Republican senators.”

“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Thursday that former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez lied to Americans when she said she was fired for refusing to endorse vaccine recommendations not supported by science,” Axios reports.

“Kennedy’s public rebuke will likely cause additional turmoil at the CDC.”

Said Monarez, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed: “The CDC can’t fulfill its obligation to the American people if its leader can’t demand proof in decision-making. That isn’t reform. It is sabotage.”

Tom Bartlett: “The health secretary is showing this week what he’s willing to do with his power.”

A new CBS News poll finds 74% of Americans think the federal government should make vaccines more available, while only 4% say they should be made less available.

Hanna Rosin: “This fall, when vaccine season comes around, everything might seem like business as usual. Vaccine schedules for kids are more or less intact, and the new flu and Covid vaccines are both scheduled to be released in time for the expected winter surge.”

“The Trump administration hasn’t had much of a visible effect on vaccines as the shots currently exist. What’s being systematically dismantled is the infrastructure that creates, tracks, and facilitates the distribution of vaccines as we’ve come to know and rely on them.”