Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Saturday criticized politicians and members of the press, stating they are "trying to scare" Americans about infectious diseases and diverting attention from chronic health issues. Kennedy's remarks came during a Fox News town hall.
Two days prior, Kennedy had accused the team of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro of fabricating two deaths related to an ongoing measles outbreak in Lancaster County. Kennedy stated on X that the county’s coroner had no record of any measles deaths, and that state law requires such fatalities to be reported to the coroner.
When questioned at the town hall about whether the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine should be mandatory in light of these reported deaths, Kennedy reiterated his doubts regarding Shapiro's claims. He described the governor's press conference as "highly politicized" and likened it to "the old COVID playbook, where there was finger-pointing and politicizing and fearmongering."
Kennedy accused the governor of being unwilling to share information with county officials concerning the alleged fatalities. "They’re making claims that nobody can validate," Kennedy said. "The press, of course, repeats them because they love doing that, but the press should be asking the question: Where are these kids? And asking the governor, ’Why isn’t he sharing that with the county, which he’s legally obligated to do?’"
The number of measles cases in the U.S. this year has already surpassed the total from last year, which was a record high. Kennedy, who has a history of vaccine skepticism, has publicly endorsed the MMR vaccine, although his communication on the matter has been described as mixed.
During the town hall, Kennedy attributed the global measles epidemic partly to children not receiving vaccinations during COVID-19 lockdowns and a loss of faith in the public health system among people worldwide due to the pandemic. Despite the rise in measles cases, Kennedy suggested that HHS has other priorities. "What I’m trying to do as HHS secretary, one, deal with the infectious disease outbreaks, which we’re doing, but also redirect attention and resources to the thing that’s really killing Americans, which are foodborne diseases," he stated.