RFK Jr. Advises Parents on Vaccines Amid Measles Outbreak

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ignited controversy by advising new parents on national television to 'do your own research' on vaccines, echoing a common refrain among vaccine skeptics. During a Merit TV interview with Dr. Phil, Kennedy reiterated his skepticism about vaccine safety and questioned the independence of regulatory agencies, despite failing to cite credible scientific sources. Public health authorities and organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to emphasize that vaccines are safe, effective, and have saved millions of lives, reducing both disease spread and severity. Kennedy's remarks come as the United States faces its largest measles outbreak in decades, with hundreds of cases and several fatalities among the unvaccinated, particularly children. Experts warn that such statements undermine public confidence in vaccination and could contribute to increased risk of preventable disease outbreaks. These comments have drawn sharp criticism from the medical community, which stresses that serious vaccine side effects are extremely rare and that immunization remains a cornerstone of public health.