Austin's Del Bigtree says kids should catch measles, polio
Austin American-Statesman • • health
Key Points:
- Del Bigtree, an Austin-based anti-vaccine advocate closely tied to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expressed a desire for his children and others to contract vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio, believing natural infection provides superior immunity.
- Bigtree founded the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), headquartered in Austin, which actively challenges vaccine mandates and promotes legislative efforts against vaccination requirements.
- Despite his alliance with Kennedy, Bigtree reportedly left formal leadership within the "Make America Healthy Again" movement after disagreements over vaccine efficacy and safety, including the debunked claim linking vaccines to autism.
- Bigtree advocates for reducing the CDC's recommended vaccine list, revisiting pharmaceutical liability protections, and conducting federal studies comparing
