Robert F Kennedy Jr tells anti-vaxxers they have a friend in the White House
Donald Trump’s health secretary has told a conference of anti-vaccine activists that they have a “friend at the White House”.
Robert F Kennedy Jr was addressing the Children’s Health Defence, an advocacy group focused on stopping children getting immunised.
Robert F Kennedy Jr led an anti-vaccine group before becoming Trump’s Health Secretary. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
"Let me be clear. You have a strong and steadfast friend at the White House," Kennedy said.
"Over the past 19 months, we have fundamentally changed how the federal government responds to parents who question what they’ve been told about vaccines.
"President Trump will not allow the government to treat parents who question vaccine orthodoxies as lepers."
In a more than an hour-long speech, Kennedy linked vaccines to diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome and anorexia, all claims that have been debunked.
He only fleetingly referenced the measles outbreak that has resulted in the deaths of four people in Pennsylvania.
"We care about every child who dies from measles. They get headlines," Kennedy said.
"I’d ask you to care about children who are dying or suffering or being injured by vaccine injuries."
Robert F Kennedy Jr is one of the most prominent anti-vaxxers in America. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro hit back at Kennedy.
"In the midst of the largest and deadliest measles outbreak in America in 35 years, RFK Jr. chose to spend his time today addressing the premier vaccine-denial conference in America," Shapiro wrote on X.
"He needed to say one sentence: I urge all Americans to get the measles vaccine now to protect themselves and their families during this deadly outbreak.
"Yet he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he pushed a narrative that continues to stoke fear and mistrust."
Kennedy formerly headed Children's Health Defence before he was appointed to the cabinet position by Trump.
Kennedy, the nephew of President John F Kennedy, has had no medical training and rose to prominence as one of America’s leading anti-vaxxers.
Measles is highly contagious and can be fatal. CDC
Earlier this week the Trump administration’s response to the measles outbreak was strongly rebuked by Republican Senator Bill Cassidy.
Cassidy, himself a doctor, was the deciding vote in confirming Kennedy to the cabinet.
"Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and effective and they do not cause autism," Cassidy said on Wednesday.
"It’s not a matter of opinion. It is a scientific fact."
Cassidy said that nobody should have to be hospitalised from the measles.
"Someone said we haven’t had to work on that for decades because no one has died from measles, and now we have people dying from measles," he said.
"That’s going to be a terrible legacy for this administration."
Governor Josh Shapiro has fumed at Robert F Kennedy Jr’s response to the measles outbreak. AP
More than 700 people have contracted measles in the current outbreak in Pennsylvania.
"This serious situation continues to be made worse by RFK Jr. playing games with public health and safety," Shapiro said.
"It is also deeply concerning to learn that the Secretary personally intervened in an otherwise administrative process to direct the (Centres for Disease Control) to not report these Pennsylvania deaths, presumably because it doesn’t fit his phony narrative."
Symptoms of measles include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash.
It is highly infectious and is spread through coughing and sneezing.
The measles vaccine is about 97 per cent effective.
The disease was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 but low vaccination rates has seen it return.
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