Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, has expressed deep concern over a growing measles outbreak in Texas, just days after downplaying the situation and casting doubt on vaccine mandates.
The measles outbreak in Texas began in late January 2025 and has since surged to 146 confirmed cases, with children making up the majority of infections, Fox News reported.
Tragically, an unvaccinated child became the first U.S. measles fatality in over a decade. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, had previously dismissed the outbreak as "not unusual" but has now shifted his stance.
Kennedy recently acknowledged the seriousness of the crisis and the role of vaccination in preventing further spread, saying he was "deeply concerned about the recent measles outbreak."
Kennedy's reversal came in a Fox News opinion piece where he emphasized the importance of vaccine accessibility while maintaining that the decision to vaccinate should remain a personal choice.
He also directed federal health agencies, including the CDC, to assist Texas officials in containing the outbreak. His comments followed growing criticism of his past statements questioning vaccine safety and federal immunization policies.
Meanwhile, health experts continue to stress that the outbreak was entirely preventable and warn that declining vaccination rates in Texas have made such crises more likely.
Texas health officials are working to curb the outbreak, focusing on vaccination efforts and public health messaging.
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