At a time when measles cases are rising across the U.S., Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke cautiously about vaccines during a House hearing.
When asked whether he would vaccinate his children against measles today, Kennedy said “probably,” but quickly added that people shouldn’t take medical advice from him. His comments come as health officials work to contain a major measles outbreak in the country.
What Did Kennedy Say About Vaccines?
During a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Mark Pocan asked Kennedy a direct question: Would he vaccinate his children for measles if they were young today?
Kennedy answered, “Probably,” but followed it by saying,
“My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant… I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.”
When pushed for more clarity, he continued to avoid giving a direct recommendation. He also declined to say whether he would vaccinate a child for chickenpox or polio.
Is He Avoiding Responsibility?
Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) falls under the HHS department, Rep. Pocan reminded Kennedy that giving public health guidance is part of his responsibility.
Kennedy responded that his role is to ensure the public gets accurate information, not to issue personal advice. He said,
“We’re going to try to lay out the pros and cons, the risks and benefits, accurately as we understand them, with replicable studies.”
A Major Measles Outbreak in the U.S.
Kennedy’s comments come during a serious measles outbreak, especially in West Texas, where two children have died. Nationwide, there are now over 1,000 confirmed cases in at least 30 states. Texas alone has reported 709 cases.
Health officials have confirmed that most of the people who got infected were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Both of the children who died were not vaccinated.
A Shift in Tone From Kennedy
For years, Kennedy has been known for questioning vaccine safety, especially the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, despite overwhelming scientific proof that vaccines are safe and life-saving.
However, in April, during an exclusive interview with CBS News, Kennedy finally encouraged the public to get the measles vaccine. He said:
“The federal government’s position, my position, is that people should get the measles vaccine.”
Still, he added that he doesn’t support government mandates for vaccines.