Key facts
- Senator Bill Cassidy criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s stance on measles vaccination.
- Cassidy declined to say if he regretted his vote to confirm Kennedy.
- Cassidy stated Congress should not try to impeach Kennedy.
- The U.S. has seen nearly 3,300 confirmed measles cases this year, up from about 2,300 last year.
- Experts attribute outbreaks to declining vaccination rates.
- Four measles deaths have been reported in Pennsylvania this year.
Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his supporters regarding measles outbreaks, calling them "bankrupt" and "ideologically driven." Cassidy, however, deflected questions about whether he regretted his vote to confirm Kennedy, stating, “You can’t wallow. You gotta move on.” He also indicated that Congress should not pursue impeachment, saying, “I don’t think it has a snowball’s chance.”
Cassidy's remarks come amid a significant increase in measles cases in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been nearly 3,300 confirmed cases this year, a substantial rise from approximately 2,300 cases last year. Experts attribute these outbreaks to a decline in vaccination rates. The CDC reported three measles deaths last year, though no deaths this year have been recorded where measles was the underlying cause. In contrast, Pennsylvania officials have reported four measles deaths this year, including two unvaccinated adults and two infants.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a statement calling any suggestion that the Trump Administration discouraged measles vaccination "absolutely fake news." The spokesperson added that Secretary Kennedy has consistently stated that the MMR vaccination is the most effective method for preventing measles infection.