Kennedy defends measles record: ‘I have never been anti-vaccine’
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US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his record on vaccines during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, amid criticism from Democrats over rising measles cases. Kennedy claimed he has never been anti-vaccine, despite a history of questioning vaccine safety.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US Health and Human Services Secretary, faced intense questioning from Democrats during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing. The hearing was ostensibly to discuss next year's HHS budget, but Kennedy was grilled on the ongoing measles outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,288 measles cases in the US last year, the highest since 1991. Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 due to widespread vaccination, but declining vaccination rates have led to growing skepticism about vaccine safety. Kennedy defended his record, stating that measles cases were rising before he took office. However, critics pointed to his two decades of vaccine skepticism as a contributing factor to the decline in vaccination rates. Kennedy claimed he has never been anti-vaccine, but has previously questioned vaccine safety and efficacy. Democrats called for his resignation, citing his lack of qualifications and alleged harm caused by his views.
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