90-Second Read: Kennedy faces anti-vaccine anger over Hantavirus treatment legal protections

The HHS late last week extended legal protections through July 18 to manufacturers and distributors of the experimental antiviral drug favipiravir as a potential treatment. Kennedy signed a Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act declaration, which provides protections for health product manufacturers during a pandemic or a similarly declared public health crisis. Kennedy has shown a willingness to try to end liability protections for vaccine manufacturers.

Kennedy signed a Public Readiness… Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. But the protections were extended only for use in passengers possibly exposed to the Andes virus on the cruise ship M/V Hondius and in people who have had close contact with those who were on board. But in response to criticism from MAHA supporters, including his longtime ally and former campaign communications director Del Bigtree, the HHS chief denied he was catering to corporate interests.

The PREP Act has become a lightning rod of criticism from some GOP lawmakers and medical freedom activists because of its use during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed the government to obtain vaccines, antivirals and other potential treatments. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) have tried to repeal the law. According to the HHS, there are existing PREP Act declarations for smallpox, mpox, Zika, anthrax, viral hemorrhagic fevers and more.