Health Secretary Blames Immigrants for Disease Outbreaks
During a recent House hearing, Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. attributed the rise in infectious diseases in the U.S. to immigrants, deflecting attention from his own role as a key health policy figure. Notably, he has been a vocal critic of vaccines that actually help prevent such outbreaks.
His comments came during discussions around the agency’s budget for 2027. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) raised concerns about the increase in cases of diseases like measles and polio. “Every patient, every child with measles should be treated with compassion,” she stated, referring to the seven cases reported in her county recently. The disease, which had been declared eliminated in the U.S. back in 2000, is now resurfacing in places such as grocery stores and colleges.
Dingell recounted a conversation she had with a family affected by measles, where they mentioned they hadn’t gotten vaccinated because they were, in their words, “listening to our government.”
The U.S. is currently at significant risk of losing its status of measles elimination, as several states grapple to manage outbreaks that stemmed from previous cases in Texas. Public health experts emphasize that vaccination with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is crucial in preventing these infections.
Despite being a prominent figure spreading vaccine misinformation, Kennedy insisted the blame for the outbreaks lay exclusively on immigrants coming from regions where measles remains a threat. He suggested that any concerns about diseases like polio or tuberculosis should lead to scrutiny of U.S. immigration policies since outbreaks often occur in areas where immigrants settle, and they lack vaccinations.
A request for evidence supporting Kennedy’s claims was not met with a response from a spokesperson for HHS.
Dingell dismissed Kennedy’s rationale, highlighting that a considerable number of Americans have opted out of vaccinations. She pointed out that while measles cases are surging globally, countries like Canada have recently lost their elimination status, putting the U.S. in a precarious position regarding public health.
Kennedy attributed declining vaccination rates to the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he propagated various misconceptions surrounding vaccine safety and effectiveness. He noted that misinformation had seeded division and increased fear among those evaluating vaccines, as exemplified during the pandemic, which further fueled racism against the Asian community.
“You may think that you’re pro-vaccine, but people aren’t hearing that,” Dingell said, expressing her concern for individuals who are currently unwell, emphasizing the need to address misinformation at both the governmental and community levels. She also criticized the employment of vaccine-skeptical personnel in health positions under Kennedy.
Experts in public health agree that a vaccination rate of 95% is necessary to avoid outbreaks. However, statistics from the 2024-25 school year reveal that national rates have dropped to 92.5%, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
