Kennedy has become a celebrity of sorts among people who oppose vaccinations.

"We have traded mild childhood infectious diseases with very very low mortalities to the American public for a large number of vaccine induced chronic diseases," Kennedy said.

Kennedy's views on vaccines are outside the mainstream of most public health organizations.

The bill, House Bill 268, he is supporting has seven sponsors, most conservative Republicans. It would allow workers to opt out of flu shots or other vaccines and would prevent employers from requiring those shots as a condition for employment.