Key facts
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. linked a decline in measles vaccination rates to a loss of public trust during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The national measles vaccination rate has fallen to 92.4 percent from 95 percent in 2019.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attributed the decline in nationwide measles vaccination rates to a loss of public trust during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting the decrease occurred under the Biden administration. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro refuted this, urging Kennedy to promote vaccinations instead of spreading misinformation.
The exchange highlights a political dispute over public health messaging and vaccination rates during a measles outbreak, with implications for public trust in health institutions and the Biden administration's handling of health crises.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the nationwide decline in measles vaccination rates, which has fallen to 92.4 percent from 95 percent in 2019, is a result of eroded public trust in the medical system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kennedy suggested this drop occurred while Joe Biden is in the White House, noting that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro had admitted to him that the decrease took place under the current administration.
However, Governor Shapiro responded on X, stating he does not blame the Biden administration for the drop in measles vaccinations. He urged Kennedy to join in encouraging vaccinations and to stop spreading misinformation. Shapiro criticized Kennedy for choosing to engage in "conspiracy theories and false claims" rather than responsibly addressing the outbreak.
The comments come amid a deadly measles outbreak in Pennsylvania, with two deaths reported in a sparsely populated area of Lancaster County. Public health data from rural communities is often limited due to federal patient privacy laws.