We are seeking the RFK Jr. MMR vaccination. What about his past safety warnings?

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly encourages measles vaccinations amid ongoing outbreaks of disease.

“The outbreak of measles is a call to action for all of us,” Kennedy said in Fox News.

Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity and protect those who are unable to get vaccinated for medical reasons.

His remarks show a major departure from his previous attention on measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine safety, including links to autism.

Op-Ed

Kennedy's Op-Ed, released on Sunday, opened with impressive subtitles.

MMR vaccines are important to avoid potentially fatal diseases.

Kennedy called for immediate public health measures in response to the Texas measles outbreak and warning.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease with certain health risks, especially for unvaccinated individuals.

Here, Kennedy refers to a Fox News article advocating for the “booster” MMR vaccine for those who were vaccinated “decades” ago.

He further noted that rare infections can cause “severe” complications “including pneumonia, blindness and encephalitis.”

While accepting parental choice, Kennedy still urged parents to consider vaccinating them. “The decision to receive vaccinations is personal,” he wrote, but later added that the vaccine is essential to achieving “community immunity.”

Perhaps to balance his pro-vaccine call, Kennedy highlighted the role of vitamin A in reducing measles complications.

The CDC recently updated its recommendations to support vitamin A administration under the supervision of a physician for people with mild, moderate, or severe infections. Studies have shown that vitamin A can dramatically reduce measles mortality.

He also referenced historical data and highlighted that improved hygiene and nutrition led to a significant reduction in measles deaths before the introduction of the MMR vaccine.

However, the statement contradicts his own warning about the risks of measles, especially for those who have not been vaccinated. If measles deaths had already been reduced due to improved public health prior to mass vaccination, why are they now explaining measles as an imminent threat requiring widespread vaccinations?

Most notably, Kennedy's operation did not address his previous concerns regarding vaccine safety.

The background of the occurrence

Since late January 2025, Texas has experienced an increase in measles outbreaks, with the state's Department of Health (DSHS) seeing 146 cases, primarily in the South Plains area. Tragically, one school-age child has passed away, marking the first measles-related fatality in the United States for over a decade.

According to official reports, many infected people were not vaccinated. However, some experts have questioned whether the outbreak is due to a lack of vaccinations or other contributing factors, such as the decline in immunity and the efficacy of the MMR vaccine itself.

Kennedy's past criticism

Kennedy has long been one of the most vocal critics of the MMR vaccine, consistently questioning its safety and link to autism. In his book Vax-Unvax, co-authored with Brian Hooker, Kennedy describes the MMR vaccine as “the tip of the spear for modern discussions about vaccine safety” (p. 57).

One of Kennedy's key discussions is the 1998 Landmark Study, led by Dr. Andrew Wakefield. As Kennedy tells in his book,

Dr Andy Wakefield and 11 colleagues at Royal Free Hospital in London have announced their findings that eight of the 12 cases of autistic enteritis that occurred after the patient received the MMR vaccine.

The book also refers to “CDC Secret Data.” This is because official information was originally withheld from the public, contributing to concerns about vaccine-out-based links.

Speaking of that data for 2020, Kennedy explained.

(The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) meant that black boys who took the MMR vaccine on time were 336% more likely to receive an autism diagnosis than children who did not get it on time.

Black Boys – MMR Vaccine & A Autismhttps://t.co/eldeovp0mf 336% higher chances

Five years ago, Rev. Rob McCoy hosted Robert Kennedy Jr. and me for a Q&A at Godspeak Calvary Church.

Robert Kennedy JR: They knew many mothers believed the MMR vaccine was causing autism. …pic.twitter.com/xe6irl1ux8

– Judy A. Mikovits PhD (@drjudyamikovits) January 27, 2025

Additionally, Kennedy cites peer-reviewed studies showing that children receiving the MMR vaccine are more likely to develop autism than their unvaccinated counterparts. At the same time, Kennedy, who once a defender of strict vaccine testing, lamented the regulatory agency's disregard these concerns in favour of a mass vaccination policy.

MMR vaccine CHD

Children's Health Defense (CHD), a nonprofit founded by Kennedy, actively covers the outbreak of measles in Texas. But that stance on the crisis is in stark contrast to Kennedy's new pro-vaccine rhetoric. Kennedy's Fox News Op-Ed highlights the importance of MMR vaccinations, but CHD continues to challenge the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

In a recent article, CHD pointed to many cases of vaccinated individuals detaining measles.

“The real problem is not a failure to vaccinate, but a failure to vaccinate.”

CHD claimed that natural measles infections have historically provided lifelong immunity. Meanwhile, vaccine-induced immunity declines over time, making older people more susceptible.

In another recent report, CHD suggested that MMR vaccinations risk outweigh the benefits that Shot offers. The organization argued that the adverse effects of the vaccine remained under-studied, and that current safety trials cannot explain an extremely low percentage of severe complications from measles themselves.

What has changed?

A sudden embrace of Kennedy's MMR vaccine raises eyebrows. After years of positioning Shot as the central villain in vaccine safety debates, of course! – He now presents it as a public health need. If this is a true change in the mind, he forgot to tell the audience why they should follow it. If it's something else, well, the question remains. What has changed – Do you “just” Kennedy's views or his message?

RFK, Jr. Covid Optics: One trial pauses and vaccine agenda advances

RFK, Jr.