U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed “deep concern” about the outbreak of measles in Texas on Sunday, warning parents should consult with healthcare providers “to understand their options for getting the MMR vaccine.”
Kennedy It is outlined In a Fox News opinion article, the outbreak represents “a call for action to reaffirm our commitment to public health.”
He sought a considered response to vaccines and their availability from all involved, based solely on science.
As healthcare providers, community leaders and policy makers, we share our responsibility to protect public health. This includes ensuring that accurate information about vaccine safety and efficacy is prevalent. We must engage with our community, understand their concerns, provide culturally competent education, and make vaccines easily accessible to everyone who wants them.
It is also our responsibility to provide up-to-date guidance on available therapeutics. Although there are no approved antivirals for people who may be infected, the CDC has recently updated its recommendation to support vitamin A administration under the supervision of a doctor for people with mild, moderate, or severe infections. Studies have shown that vitamin A can dramatically reduce measles mortality.
Parents play an crucial role in protecting their children's health. All parents should consult with their health care provider to understand their options for getting an MMR vaccine. The decision to get the vaccine is personal. Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity and protect those who are unable to get vaccinated for medical reasons.
Kennedy said the Texas outbreak is escalating rapidly, and that the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has been reporting confirmed cases since late January 2025, primarily in the South Plains area.
The outbreak has claimed the lives of the first measles-related fatal school-age children in the United States for over a decade.
Kennedy has previously addressed people who claim he is “anti-vaccine” and so on.
Watch – Protesters confuse RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearing:
Kennedy said in January he was simply “promoted” as reported by Breitbart News.
“I've worked for years to raise awareness about mercury and toxic chemicals in fish, but no one has called me anti-fish. And I believe that the vaccine plays an important role in health care. All of my children have been vaccinated. I've written many books on vaccines. My first book in 2014 is that I'm not anti-vaccine, and the last line is not anti-vaccine,” he says, explaining that he's not the “enemy of food producers,” and focuses on the importance of American farms.
“American farms are the foundation of our culture, politics and national security. I was a child and worked on the ranch for the summer. I went to work with farmers. I want to work with farmers and food producers. Remove burden regulations and unleash American ingenuity. Maha simply cannot succeed without a partnership, a perfect partnership of American farmers,” he continued.
Ultimately, Kennedy admitted that he “often disrupted the status quo by asking offensive questions.”
