Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s call for the option to vaccinate against measles, amid an outbreak in Texas, has sparked anger from anti-vax activists, with one saying he is “no different than Fauci.”The health secretary wrote an op-ed for Fox News, urging parents to “consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine” but he also reiterated his long-held position that vaccination is a personal choice.”Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” he wrote.Kennedy has denied that he is anti-vaccination multiple times, insisting that he wants people to make “informed choices.”Whenreached for a response about the backlash, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) referred Newsweek to the op-ed.Why It MattersKennedy faced criticism over his comments about vaccines in the past and, most recently, was accused of “downplaying” the current measles outbreak in West Texas, when he said outbreaks are “not unusual” in the United States.Before his confirmation as health secretary, he said he would not ban vaccines, telling NBC News in November that “if vaccines are working for somebody, I’m not going to take them away.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listens as President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington on February 26, 2025.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listens as President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington on February 26, 2025.
AP
What To KnowKennedy wrote the op-ed on Sunday about a measles outbreak of 146 cases—mostly children, many of whom are unvaccinated. One school-aged child died, marking the first fatality from the disease in the U.S. since 2015.”Parents play a pivotal role in safeguarding their children’s health,” he wrote. “All parents should consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine.”Prior to the introduction of the vaccine in the 1960s, virtually every child in the United States contracted measles. For example, in the United States, from 1953 to 1962, on average there were 530,217 confirmed cases and 440 deaths, a case fatality rate of 1 in 1,205 cases.”The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons.”Before it spread, the measles outbreak appeared to have been most concentrated in the under-vaccinated, close-knit Mennonite community in Gaines County, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.In 2010, about one-fifth of the county’s residents were believed to be part of the Mennonite faith, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Mennonites are a diverse group of Christian denominations rooted in the Protestant Reformation who believe in a commitment to pacifism and nonresistance. The Mennonite Church as a whole is not opposed to vaccines, and among Mennonites it is generally left to an individual to decide whether they want to get vaccinated.Nevertheless, several people criticized Kennedy, including Mostly Peaceful Latinas podcast host Linda Catalina, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “RFK Jr. Is already proving to be a fraud and no different than Fauci or anyone else from the old regime. Here he is encouraging the MMR vaccine, which is one of the most dangerous vaccines in the market and causes inflammation of the brain. What a shame. Total let down.”RFK jr. Is already proving to be a fraud and no different than Fauci or anyone else from the old regime. Here he is encouraging the MMR vaccine, which is one of the most dangerous vaccines in the market and causes inflammation of the brain. What a shame. Total let down. pic.twitter.com/UnBlxPucpo— Linda Catalina (@wakeupwithlinda) March 3, 2025
Similarly, the X account for the organization The Patriot Voice (@TPV_John) wrote: “MASK OFF moment for RFK Jr. Telling people to get the MMR vaccine due to a Measles ‘outbreak’ in Texas. So much for ‘MAHA’ Yikes!”MASK OFF moment for RFK Jr. 😳Telling people to get the MMR vaccine due to a Measles “outbreak” in Texas.So much for “MAHA”Yikes! pic.twitter.com/xqxzGZR1wX— The Patriot Voice (@TPV_John) March 3, 2025
Activist Larry Cook, who campaigns against mandatory vaccination, said: “I read the measles and MMR vaccine statement by RFK Jr. Though unfortunate that the vaccine is being recommended, what also was mentioned is that it should be a parent’s choice (end vax mandates), and that nutrients and raising healthy children is also an option. Baby steps.”
What People Are SayingHHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy also said in his op-ed: “The measles outbreak in Texas is a call to action for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to public health. By working together — parents, healthcare providers, community leaders, and government officials, we can prevent future outbreaks and protect the health of our nation. Under my leadership, HHS is and will always be committed to radical transparency to regain the public’s trust in its health agencies.”Kennedy previously told NBC News: “People ought to have choice and ought to be informed by the best information, so I’m going to make sure that scientific safety studies and efficacies are out there and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them.”The Texas Department of State Health Services, on its website: “The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.”What Happens NextMeasles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 but has since made a comeback, which experts attribute to international travel and the rise of anti-vaccine sentiment. It remains to be seen whether the ongoing outbreaks will die out or continue to spread.
