Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., long known for his skepticism toward vaccines, expressed support for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine on Sunday in response to a growing outbreak in the Southwest, centered in Texas, where an unvaccinated child’s death marked the first U.S. measles fatality in a decade.
In an opinion piece published by Fox News, Kennedy wrote, “I am deeply concerned about the recent measles outbreak,” a stark contrast to his earlier claim at a cabinet meeting that such outbreaks were “not unusual.”
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reports 146 confirmed cases since late January, with 116 involving children under 18—79 unvaccinated and 62 with unknown vaccination status. The outbreak, which claimed a school-aged child’s life in late February, is the state’s largest in 30 years.
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“Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” Kennedy wrote, though he emphasized, “The decision to vaccinate is a personal one.” He urged parents to “consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options” for the MMR vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) deems 97% effective with two doses. Kennedy also directed federal agencies, including the CDC, to aid Texas, providing technical support, vaccines, and lab assistance despite recent staffing cuts under President Donald Trump’s government overhaul.
Kennedy dismissed accusations of being anti-vaccine Sunday, insisting his views were “mischaracterized” and his policies reflect “common sense.”
Kennedy’s piece stressed information dissemination and accessibility, saying, “Health workers, officials, and communities [must ensure] accurate information about vaccine safety and efficacy is disseminated.”
He highlighted the outbreak’s toll—20 hospitalizations alongside the death—and offered Vitamin A as a treatment, though no antiviral exists for measles.
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As measles cases climb, the CDC holds firm: vaccination is the best defense.
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