Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a vaccine critic who has pledged to tackle chronic disease, was named U.S. Health Secretary on Thursday after overcoming resistance from the medical establishment and members of Congress with promises to limit his role in vaccination policy.

Kennedy Jr., U.S. President Trump's nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington,

The US Senate on Thursday voted to approve Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, clearing the way for one of President Donald Trump’s more controversial Cabinet appointments.

Kennedy managed to allay the concerns of several key GOP senators over his anti-vaccine activism. Mitch McConnell was the lone Republican to vote against him.

The Senate voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., former environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, as secretary of health and human services in a 52-48 vote.