RFK Jr.’s Measles Failure Endangers Lives

By Greg Collier

The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has exposed a troubling reality. The nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is ill-equipped to handle a public health crisis. In just over two weeks as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy’s actions have not only failed to contain the outbreak but have actively undermined public confidence in vaccines. His long-standing skepticism toward immunization, coupled with a pattern of misinformation, is creating an environment where preventable diseases are once again thriving.

The current outbreak, the worst Texas has seen in nearly 30 years, has resulted in over a hundred cases and, most tragically, the first U.S. measles death in nearly a decade. The victim was a school-aged child who had not been vaccinated, a devastating but entirely preventable loss. The disease, once considered eliminated in the U.S., is now spreading in communities with low immunization rates, underscoring the consequences of lax public health messaging.

Kennedy’s response has been marked by dangerous downplaying and misleading statements. Instead of using his position to push for immediate vaccination efforts, he initially dismissed the outbreak as routine, falsely suggesting that most hospitalizations were merely for quarantine purposes. Medical professionals on the ground were quick to contradict this claim, making it clear that patients were being treated for serious complications, including respiratory distress and bacterial pneumonia. Some required oxygen or even intubation. His inability, or refusal, to acknowledge the severity of the situation raises alarming questions about his leadership.

Adding to the concern, Kennedy’s department has quietly postponed or canceled two major vaccine advisory meetings, leaving experts and lawmakers questioning whether scientific oversight is being deliberately weakened. His insistence on investigating the childhood vaccine schedule, despite overwhelming evidence of its safety and effectiveness, signals a broader agenda that prioritizes ideological skepticism over evidence-based policy.

Beyond his mishandling of measles, Kennedy’s approach to public health more broadly is cause for alarm. His messaging on vaccination has been muddled at best and harmful at worst. While he has made vague gestures toward acknowledging the benefits of the MMR vaccine, he has stopped short of strongly recommending it, a stark contrast to his predecessors who did not hesitate to issue clear, urgent calls for immunization during previous measles outbreaks. Instead, Kennedy has chosen to emphasize alternative treatments like vitamin A, a supplement used in some developing nations but not considered a primary defense against measles in the U.S. This messaging, whether intentional or not, has the potential to further erode trust in vaccines.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has taken notice of Kennedy’s missteps and has demanded clarity on his intentions regarding vaccine policy. In a letter sent to the Secretary, she criticized his failure to lead with science and expressed concerns over his reluctance to champion vaccines in the midst of a growing public health crisis. She also raised alarms about his department’s reevaluation of a government contract with Moderna to develop a bird flu vaccine, a move that suggests he may be willing to put broader vaccine development at risk.

The role of the Health and Human Services Secretary is to safeguard the health of all Americans, not to push personal ideologies at the expense of public safety. Kennedy’s tenure thus far has demonstrated that he is fundamentally unfit for the job. His refusal to provide clear guidance, his history of vaccine misinformation, and his willingness to disrupt the advisory processes meant to protect public health make him a dangerous figure in a position that demands expertise, trust, and decisive action.

As measles continues to spread and more children fall ill, the consequences of Kennedy’s leadership will only become more evident. The country cannot afford a health secretary who treats a deadly outbreak as an opportunity to sow doubt rather than promote solutions. The damage done by his mishandling of this crisis may take years to undo, and the cost, measured in preventable illness, hospitalizations, and deaths, will be paid by the most vulnerable.