RFK Jr. Supports MMR Vaccine, Says Decision to Vaccinate is 'Personal'

A measles outbreak has led to 164 confirmed cases of measles across 10 states and one death, the first in over a decade. 

Key Quotes: In an op-ed for Fox News (Right bias), Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said we need to “reaffirm our commitment to public health… This includes ensuring that accurate information about vaccine safety and efficacy is disseminated. We must engage with communities to understand their concerns, provide culturally competent education, and make vaccines readily accessible for all those who want them.” He added that parents should consult with healthcare providers about vaccines, but ultimately, “The decision to vaccinate is a personal one.”

For Context: “Kennedy spent two decades questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines,” the Wall Street Journal (Center) noted. Under his leadership, the HHS has moved to replace vaccine advisors, reviewed vaccine contracts and forgone meetings with infectious disease experts. 

How The Media Covered It: Voices on the left characterized Kennedy as “flip-flopping” or “performing an astonishing 180” on vaccines, noting his history of skepticism. A writer in the National Review Opinion (Right bias) argued that Kennedy's op-ed was not surprising, saying he praised MMR vaccines, “in a manner consistent with his belief that the decision to inoculate should be a matter of choice... True to form, he also promoted natural therapeutics, including vitamin A.”