Kennedy tells anti-vaccine group he previously led that he’ll ‘stay in this fight’

Kennedy Tells Anti-Vaccine Group He Will Stay in Fight

Healfromzero.com – Kennedy tells anti vaccine group Children’s Health Defense that he will remain committed to its cause, drawing a standing ovation during the organization’s annual gathering on Thursday. The appearance by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came as the United States confronts its largest measles resurgence in decades.

Kennedy helped found Children’s Health Defense and formerly led the organization. He left its leadership when he began his presidential campaign, but his keynote address emphasized his continuing alignment with many of the group’s concerns about vaccines and public-health policy.

Speech highlights broader health agenda

For much of his nearly 40-minute speech, Kennedy focused on the Trump administration’s wider health agenda. He discussed food dyes, ultraprocessed foods in government-supported programs, regenerative agriculture, and research into possible health effects from electromagnetic fields and chemtrails. His reference to chemtrails was met with applause.

When Kennedy turned to vaccines, he praised President Donald Trump for engaging with vaccine skeptics and said parents who question conventional public-health guidance would have support from the White House.

“You have a strong and steadfast friend at the White House.”

He said the administration had preserved vaccine access while beginning to ask questions that parents have raised for years.

“President Trump will not allow the government to treat parents who question vaccine orthodoxies as lepers. We have not taken vaccines away from anyone. We have preserved access, but we have started asking the questions that you and millions of American parents have been asking for years.”

Measles outbreak adds to scrutiny

Kennedy tells anti vaccine group his message as a measles outbreak has surpassed 3,200 US cases this year. Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but declining vaccination rates have contributed to outbreaks, especially in unvaccinated communities.

Pennsylvania has reported four measles-related deaths this year, including two infants and an 18-year-old. The outbreak has intensified attention on routine vaccination and its role in preventing diseases that once became uncommon in the country.

Kennedy mentioned measles only once during his address. He criticized the federal system for reporting vaccine-related adverse events, calling it “very bad,” and said the true frequency of serious vaccine injuries remained uncertain.

“We care about every child who dies from measles. They get headlines. We should care about the children — shouldn’t we, I’d ask you, care about children who are dying or suffering or being injured by vaccine injuries?”

Medical experts say vaccines are highly safe and effective, and that severe adverse events are very rare. A 2021 review of 338 studies across 518 publications found vaccines were safe among different populations and that serious adverse effects were uncommon.

Longstanding ties to Children’s Health Defense

Kennedy tells anti vaccine group with which he has longstanding ties that he will “stay in this fight.” Children’s Health Defense has challenged vaccine mandates, public-health rules and related government policies, while also promoting medical-freedom legislation and films questioning vaccine safety.

The event also featured Mark Gordon, president of the MAHA Institute, and Andrew Wakefield. Wakefield authored a 1998 paper linking childhood vaccination to neurodevelopmental conditions including autism. The study was retracted in 2010, and Wakefield lost his medical license.

Attendees were offered a chance to win a signed copy of Kennedy’s book, The Real Anthony Fauci, which focuses on the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

FAQ for US families

What should parents do if they have questions about vaccines? Parents can speak with a pediatrician or other qualified health professional about recommended vaccines, possible side effects and their child’s medical history.

Why is measles a concern in the United States? Measles spreads easily and can cause serious complications. High vaccination coverage helps protect infants, people with certain medical conditions and others who cannot be vaccinated.

Are serious vaccine reactions common? Medical experts say serious adverse events are rare. Families concerned about a reaction should seek medical advice promptly and discuss reporting options with a health professional.