Vaccine skeptic Robert Kennedy Jr. urges children's measles vaccination

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called on American parents to vaccinate their children against measles, a significant shift for a figure long associated with vaccine skepticism. The appeal was made during a CNN program as the United States grapples with its largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years.

"Parents should vaccinate their children against measles. The vaccine is effective – it prevents illness in about 97 percent of cases. People should get vaccinated," Kennedy stated, also recommending the MMR vaccine which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. This stance surprised many, given Kennedy's history of questioning vaccine safety and efficacy, and spreading unverified information before and even after taking office.

Kennedy's call coincides with a sharp rise in measles cases, with 2,371 confirmed infections this year alone, surpassing the total for 2025. The current infection rate is the highest since 1991. Experts warn that the persistent outbreaks, numbering 37, could jeopardize the U.S. status as a country that has eliminated endemic measles transmission, a status held since 2000.

Despite his clear endorsement of measles vaccination, Kennedy deflected responsibility for the current epidemic during the same interview, blaming religious communities and global factors. He also reiterated scientifically unsupported claims, suggesting RSV and Lyme disease might stem from lab experiments and repeating unverified theories about links between prenatal paracetamol use and autism.

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Parents should vaccinate their children against measles. The vaccine is effective – it prevents illness in about 97 percent of cases. People should get vaccinated.