For the first occasion in thirty years, the number of measles cases has seen a significant spike, breaching the thousand case mark. Throughout this alarming resurgence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the incumbent Secretary of Health and Human Services, made efforts to rationalize religious exemptions to vaccination while simultaneously propagating unfounded theories.
In a recent discourse, RFK Jr. confessed a disturbingly distorted assertion about the MMR vaccine. His comments alluded to the vaccine containing numerous particles resulting from aborted fetal tissue, precisely ‘millions of DNA fragments’. This assertion, however, couldn’t be further from the truth.
It’s true that the rubella aspect of the MMR vaccine is in fact grown in a lab cell line. This cell line was initially derived from fetal tissue way back in the 1960s. However, the claim that the final vaccine delivered to patients consists of fetal tissue cells is a gross misconception. Any DNA fragments that might be present in the vaccine are non-functional, stringently controlled to ensure safety, and do not originate from actual tissue cells.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms the escalating severity of measles cases. Up until a recent moment in time, the CDC detected as many as 1,001 measles cases in the year 2025. This number shows a drastic increase over the 285 cases that were reported throughout the entirety of 2024. Disturbingly, the disease has claimed three lives so far.
RFK Jr. has parlayed this discourse into a larger debate about personal freedoms versus religious persecution. He puts forth the argument that those declining vaccination on the grounds of personal faith are being socially ostracized–’treated like lepers’. According to him, these individuals require more compassion in a medical context.
In this debate, Kennedy throws light on a historical comparison. He points out that among approximately 2 million recorded measles cases in 1963 (the year prior to the vaccine’s introduction), nearly 400 resulted in fatalities. Kennedy further asserts that ‘only very, very sick kids should die from measles.’ He does not, however, further clarify this statement.
Side effects associated with the MMR vaccines are infrequent and generally less debilitating than those linked to the measles disease. Consequences of contracting measles can be severe and include the development of pneumonia and encephalitis. Tragically, in certain situations, the infection can even lead to death, especially among young children.
Kennedy admitted that a recent measles outbreak in Texas has managed to spread across 30 different states. A noticeably higher prevalence of measles was observed within the Mennonite community, indicating the likelihood of the virus spreading more easily among populations with lower vaccination rates.
Measles is among the most infectious viruses known to humanity. Among those who have not been vaccinated, the infection rate is a staggering 90 percent. This makes achieving herd immunity a highly challenging task, as it requires vaccination coverage of approximately 95 percent. Sadly, the United States fell below this critical threshold in 2021.
With less than the required vaccination rate, the U.S is facing an increased risk of measles outbreaks. Circulation of the virus in wider unvaccinated populations could lead to outbreaks accelerating beyond control. This presents a substantial public health risk, which is why a high vaccination rate is indispensable to prevent unmanageable outbreaks.
During a severe outbreak of measles that took place in New York in 2019, a public health emergency was declared in certain city sections. Residents, who were previously not vaccinated, had been compelled to receive the vaccine in these parts of the city. Non-compliance led to penalties hoping to ensure protection against potential health risks.
RFK Jr. has been subject to backlash in the past for his contentious views on the measles disease and vaccination. He has lamentably suggested that widespread infection with measles might serve us better than vaccination. He has this unfounded belief as he posits that measles infection provides lifelong immunity in a way that the vaccine doesn’t.
Kennedy’s argument, however, lacks scientific support. The MMR vaccine, with a proven effectiveness rate of 97 percent, provides lifelong immunity. Furthermore, unlike contracting measles, there are no known risks of severe complications like pneumonia, encephalitis, or death from vaccination.
In reality, advocating for a strategy where more ‘people get measles’ would likely lead to unnecessary suffering and potential loss of life. Achieving herd immunity through the MMR vaccine is time-tested and scientifically endorsed as a key strategy to quell the spread of measles. Moreover, vaccination is the only responsible and humane method to protect vulnerable people and those unable to receive the vaccine.
Thus the discourse around vaccination, while respecting individuals’ rights and religious beliefs, needs to equally consider public health. Misinformation and skewed narratives like Kennedy’s could tip the balance and bring disastrous outcomes, as the recent resurgence in measles cases suggests.
In concluding, it’s clear that the unchecked spread of misleading information can lead to harmful decisions that affect an individual’s health, society, and global health initiatives. Therefore, accurate information about vaccines, their efficacy, and potential side effects should be guided by scientific evidence and shared responsibly to foster informed decisions.