Measles Strike and Mixed Messages

The measles outbreak in West Texas has taken a tragic turn. An 8-year-old girl lost her life to the virus, marking the second unvaccinated child to die from measles this year. This sad event prompted a surprising response from health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He attended the funeral and shared a post on X, acknowledging the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine in preventing measles. This was a significant shift from his usual stance, which has often involved spreading misinformation about vaccines and promoting unproven treatments. Kennedy's newfound support for the MMR vaccine did not sit well with his anti-vaxx followers. They accused him of being a "sell-out" and a "poster boy for Big Pharma. " Some even suggested that he had been compromised or blackmailed. Del Bigtree, the CEO of the anti-vaxx organization Informed Consent Action Network, was particularly outraged. He pointed out that Kennedy's post failed to mention the conspiracy theory that the MMR vaccine causes autism. This is not the first time Kennedy has acknowledged the benefits of the MMR vaccine. In the past, he has written about how vaccines protect both individual children and the community. However, he has never explicitly urged parents to vaccinate their children. Some of his fans appreciated that he mentioned vitamin A, but doctors have warned that it can be dangerous in large doses and ineffective against measles. Kennedy's public statements about vaccines have been inconsistent. He has spent years profiting from lies about vaccines, but he has also claimed to be "pro-vaccine. " Despite his claims to want transparency and "good science, " the FDA recently canceled a flu-vaccine planning meeting without explanation. Kennedy has also tapped David Geier, another notorious anti-vaxxer, to lead a study reexamining the debunked link between vaccines and autism. The FDA's top vaccine official, Dr. Peter Marks, recently resigned after being told he could either quit or be fired. He criticized Kennedy, saying, "This man doesn't care about the truth. He cares about what is making him followers. " This statement highlights the ongoing debate about vaccine safety and the role of public figures in shaping public opinion.