Senators confirmed Kennedy to the role with a 52-48 vote.
Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against the confirmation.
McConnell survived polio as a child.
Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
The American Public Health Association (APHA) said it was disappointed by the confirmation.
During the confirmation hearings, many senators expressed interest in efforts to address toxins and chronic health issues.
During the hearings, he declined to say that vaccines dont cause autism.
He maintained that he is pro-good science rather than anti-vaccine.
However, he refused to recognize decades of gold-standard research disproving a link between vaccines and autism.
Kennedy takes the reins of HHS as the department is grappling with questions about the future of Medicaid.
His focus on chronic health issues and food safety may reshape future health policies.
However, his decades-long involvement in spreading vaccine misinformation has raised concerns among public health experts.
U.S Department of Health and Human Services.HHS agencies & offices.
Make America Healthy Again.Our vision for a healthier, stronger America.
