Two days after initially downplaying the outbreak as “not unusual,” US health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. acknowledged the severity of the ongoing measles epidemic in Texas, where a child recently died. Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, stated that his department is providing resources, including protective vaccines, to combat the epidemic. He announced that his federal Department of Health and Human Services would send 2,000 doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine to Texas through its immunization program. The death of an unvaccinated child from measles infection, the first such fatality in a decade, has challenged Kennedy’s views on vaccines. Despite founding the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, Kennedy claims he is not “anti-vaccine” and would not prevent Americans from getting vaccinated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 164 measles cases, mostly among unvaccinated individuals, have been reported across several states. Additionally, Kennedy’s health and human services department plans to eliminate public participation in many policy decisions, contradicting his previous promise of “radical transparency” to Congress. This proposal would mark a significant shift in the rulemaking process at the agency, which oversees healthcare spending and numerous crucial health organizations.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/01/kennedy-jr-measles-outbreak-health-department