Vaccine critic RFK Jr backs measles jab amid deadly outbreak in US, calls for increased accessibility – Firstpost

Kennedy, who was just approved as health secretary, has previously made multiple incorrect and deceptive assertions regarding the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination, as well as downplaying the rising outbreak, claiming that yearly outbreaks were ’not unusual' US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine sceptic, expressed support for the measles vaccination on Sunday, as the disease spreads in the country’s southwest. Kennedy, who was just approved as health secretary, has previously made multiple incorrect and deceptive assertions regarding the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination, as well as downplaying the rising outbreak, claiming that yearly outbreaks were “not unusual.” However, in an editorial piece published by Fox News on Sunday, Kennedy expressed his “deep concern” about the new measles epidemic. However, he said “the decision to vaccinate is a personal one,” and urged all parents to “consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine.” He said he had directed federal health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to provide support to Texas health authorities. Kennedy said health workers, officials and communities were responsible for “ensuring that accurate information about vaccine safety and efficacy is disseminated” and making “vaccines readily accessible for all those who want them.” Kennedy has dismissed critics who say he is anti-vaccine, claiming his views were mischaracterized and insisting he was advocating for “common sense” policies.