FACT FOCUS: RFK Jr. claims US leads in controlling measles spread
AP News • • health
Key Points:
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that under his leadership, the U.S. is better at limiting the spread of measles than any other country, despite a global surge in cases.
- Data shows that while measles outbreaks are occurring worldwide, the U.S. is experiencing worsening conditions due to declining vaccination rates, with 2026 cases trending higher than the previous record year.
- Vaccination rates in the U.S. have dropped from 95.2% in 2019-20 to 92.5% in 2024-25, below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks, putting the country at risk of losing its 26-year measles elimination status.
- Public health experts criticize Kennedy for not strongly promoting vaccinations and for casting doubt on their safety, which may contribute to the nation's largest measles resurgence since 1991.
- Despite global outbreaks, countries like Mexico and Canada have experienced larger measles surges than the U.S., contradicting Kennedy's claim of superior control under his leadership.
