WASHINGTON — Following the announcement by Pennsylvania health authorities of two measles-related deaths among unvaccinated individuals, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. contacted Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro to propose federal support. Reports from both parties indicate that the conversation became tense.
At a Tuesday press conference, Shapiro stated, “I was very, very blunt with him, making it clear that his actions and rhetoric from this administration negatively impact communities across America, especially here in Pennsylvania. There are real-life consequences to spreading misinformation.”
Shapiro was alluding to remarks made by Kennedy prior to his role in the Trump administration, which questioned the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. His messaging on the necessity of this vaccine has been inconsistent.
Since joining the Trump administration, Kennedy has continued to downplay the seriousness of measles, reject his role in disseminating vaccine misinformation, and divert focus to other issues.
On Tuesday night, Kennedy accused Shapiro of “gaslighting,” sharing a link from his personal X account to The HighWire, a site run by anti-vaccine advocate Del Bigtree that spreads vaccine misinformation. He also attributed declining rates of pediatric vaccination to the Biden administration.
Kennedy wrote, “As I told him, HHS does not tolerate misinformation by any employee. I offered to point to hundreds of instances of vaccine misinformation by the Biden administration about which I had never heard him complain.”
On Wednesday, during an event in Tampa, Fla., concerning children’s health and nutrition, Kennedy encouraged vaccination against measles. However, he has not commented further on X or other platforms. Erica Schwartz, the newly confirmed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has also remained silent on the measles outbreak and the deaths in Pennsylvania.
“We are actually restoring faith in the public health agencies,” Kennedy stated in Tampa, noting that the CDC is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The CDC’s official account expressed condolences to the families affected, emphasizing the MMR vaccine as the “most effective protection against measles.”
Senate health leader Bill Cassidy (R-La.) meanwhile called for vaccinations.
“No one needs to die from measles in 2026,” he stated on social media on Wednesday.
“Misinformation and misguided policies are leaving children unprotected against a disease we know how to prevent,” Cassidy posted.
Kennedy has been involved in other instances of vaccine skepticism and misinformation recently, as children return to school amid increasing vaccine exemptions and measles outbreaks in various states, including a new outbreak in Maryland. Using his personal social media, he has spread inaccurate claims about Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, criticizing former Trump administration Surgeon General Jerome Adams.
Kennedy and some of his aides, including senior White House adviser Calley Means, have downplayed the measles outbreaks. Instead, they have highlighted other administration policies, such as nutrition and fitness initiatives, or shifted blame to the Biden administration.
Earlier this month, Kennedy denied accountability for the rising measles rates during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, citing high measles rates in other countries.
“First of all, this is an international outbreak. So we’re doing better at handling it than any country in the world,” Kennedy remarked.
A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, informed STAT last week that reexamining vaccine side effects remains a top priority for Kennedy.
On Tuesday, before commenting on his discussion with Shapiro, Kennedy responded to a post by Aaron Siri, his former attorney representing vaccine-injured individuals. Siri claimed the FDA was aware that Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine spread particles to the ovaries, a claim that has been disputed. Kennedy urged Adams, who served during the first Trump administration, to issue “appropriate condemnation” for endorsing the vaccine.
“The first Pennsylvania measles deaths in 35 years were just announced yesterday …” Adams responded on X. “[S]o I’m wondering why [Secretary Kennedy] choose [sic] to spend his time/ influence engaging me on THIS nonsense?!”
