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RFK Jr tells US families to vaccinate children against measles amid outbreak
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., previously a prominent vaccine skeptic, urged parents to vaccinate their children against measles amid a surge in cases hitting a 35-year high in the US.
- The US has recorded 2,371 confirmed measles infections in 2026, surpassing the 2025 total and marking the highest annual count since 1991, threatening the country's measles elimination status.
- Despite his vaccination call, Kennedy deflected responsibility for the outbreak, blaming religious communities and global health issues, and continued to spread misinformation about vaccines and other diseases during a contentious CNN interview.
- Kennedy's combative tone included personal attacks on the interviewer and unsubstantiated claims linking RSV and Lyme disease to laboratory manipulation, contradicting established scientific evidence.
- Public health experts, including Ashish Jha, welcomed Kennedy's vaccination endorsement but criticized the administration's overall inadequate response to the measles surge and the spread of misinformation under Kennedy's leadership.
