Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called on Americans to ensure their children receive the MMR vaccine as the nation faces a measles outbreak that has reached its highest level in 35 years. Kennedy, a vocal critic of certain vaccine policies, emphasized that he has never questioned the efficacy of the MMR vaccine, which provides protection against measles, mumps, and rubella, ahead of the upcoming back-to-school season.
During a recent interview with CNN, Kennedy dismissed suggestions that his own vaccine skepticism might be linked to the rising number of cases. Instead, he attributed the increase to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns. Citing the personal diaries of former Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, Kennedy argued that the disruption to routine healthcare during the shutdowns prevented many children from receiving their scheduled immunizations. Kennedy noted that Fauci himself had written that the failure to vaccinate children during that period could lead to far more excess deaths from measles than from the coronavirus among that demographic.
The discussion also touched on the broader management of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Kennedy claiming that the United States experienced the worst outcomes globally. He alleged that former President Donald Trump had repeatedly pushed Fauci to reopen the country, citing diary entries in which Fauci described Trump as being out of control. These comments followed a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday, July 29, where Fauci declined to answer questions regarding his leadership during the pandemic, opting to invoke his right against self-incrimination.
When pressed by CNN's Dana Bash regarding his past assertions linking vaccines to autism, Kennedy defended his position, leading to a heated exchange over his scientific credentials. During the interview, Kennedy also outlined his vision for future pandemic response, stating that the protection of constitutional rights must remain the primary priority. He further criticized gain-of-function research as ineffective, noting that the Trump administration had announced plans to end such research on Tuesday, July 28.
Beyond vaccine policy, Kennedy is currently focusing on his "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, which includes significant reforms to the regulation of processed foods. He denied accusations that internal administration officials are obstructing these efforts due to industry lobbying. Kennedy expressed confidence that his proposed changes to the definition of ultra-processed foods and the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) rule will be released for public review within the next month.
