HHS Secretary Kennedy addresses anti-vaccine group, pledges support amid measles surge

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke for about 90 minutes at a Washington, D.C., conference organized by the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense. Kennedy said the administration would act "one day at a time" and that he would have implemented broader changes "on day one" if not constrained by existing law. He assured the audience that they have a "strong and steadfast friend at the White House" and urged patience as the department proceeds with policy work.

The remarks came as the nation confronts its worst measles outbreak in decades, which has claimed several lives, including four recent deaths in Pennsylvania. Kennedy referenced the deaths, noting that the country "cares about rare illnesses and deaths" and asked the audience to also consider children he described as suffering from vaccine-related injuries.

Children’s Health Defense officials praised the event as an opportunity to engage mainstream media and highlighted plans to challenge state school-entry immunization rules, recruit younger members, and oppose certain telecommunications infrastructure. Several speakers, including former gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield, reiterated long-discredited claims linking vaccines to autism and other conditions.

Republican senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul also addressed the gathering, reiterating broader criticisms of COVID-19 vaccine policies. The conference featured a range of statements that diverge from the consensus of the scientific and medical communities regarding vaccine safety and efficacy.