RFK Jr. spars with House Democrats over vaccine policies amid rise in measles cases
abcnews.com • • nation
Key Points:
- Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his vaccine-skeptical rhetoric and policy changes, linking them to a rise in measles cases and recent outbreaks in the U.S.
- Rep. Linda Sanchez condemned Kennedy for altering the CDC's childhood immunization schedule and ending pro-vaccine public messaging, which she associated with increased preventable deaths, including two measles-related child fatalities in Texas.
- Kennedy defended his record by claiming the U.S. has managed measles better than other countries and disputed Sanchez's statistics, while public health experts and organizations have criticized his delayed acknowledgment of vaccine efficacy.
- Rep. Mike Thompson accused Kennedy of promoting dangerous conspiracy theories that undermine public health and cited a sharp increase in measles cases during Kennedy's tenure compared to previous years.
- Kennedy, founder of the vaccine-skeptical group Children's Health Defense, has long questioned vaccine safety despite scientific consensus, contributing to vaccine hesitancy nationwide.
