In 2019, a devastating measles outbreak erupted in Samoa. Eighty-three people, most of them children, died. Another 5,000 contracted the disease, many of which suffer long-term damage as a result. In total, around 3% of the small island’s population fell ill.
Local officials in Samoa don't blame Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's HHS pick, for measles deaths, but critics call his actions "harmful."
Samoa’s director general of health says Robert F. Kennedy Jnr’s comments in the United States Senate about the 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa are a “complete lie”. The country’s health boss called the appointment of Kennedy as health secretary a “disaster for public health in the world”.
RFK Jr.'s testimony to senators clashed with past articles and letters he wrote concerning Samoan vaccine policy
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed back on Democrats’ allegations that he contributed to a measles outbreak in Samoa, saying vaccination rates were already low when he visited in 2019. “I went there nothing to do with vaccines,
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed back on questioning from Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) about his vaccine views. “I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages” for people to get those vaccines,
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s record of questioning childhood vaccine safety came under fire from a key Republican at the Trump HHS pick's confirmation hearing.
The ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ star supported her husband at his grueling confirmation hearing Wednesday, just as she supported him during their 2019 trip to Samoa, where his meetings with
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny Wednesday on Capitol Hill as he sought confirmation for the role of Health and Human Services secretary.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made claims during his Senate confirmation hearing on issues including vaccines, pesticides and Lyme disease. Some of them are missing context.
Mr. Kennedy appears to have most Republicans behind him as he seeks the job of health secretary, though he couldn’t escape his past stances on vaccines and abortion.