RFK Jr Urges Parents to Vaccinate Kids Amid Record Measles Outbreak

Mon 3 Aug 2026 at 3:49pm

Robert F Kennedy Jr says kids should get the measles jab.

In short:

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr says parents should vaccinate their children against measles.

The advice comes amid the worst outbreak in 35 years.

What's next?

International health officials will meet later this year to determine if the US and Mexico have lost their measles-free status.

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has urged parents to vaccinate their children following a record-breaking measles outbreak in the United States.

Mr Kennedy warned people to get the jab during a heated interview on CNN on Sunday, local time.

Parents should get their children vaccinated for measles.

A measles vaccine is effective, it stops measles in about 97 per cent of the cases. People should get vaccinated.

The rise in measles has been linked to slumping immunisation rates, a trend many attribute to vaccine scepticism.

More than 2,370 cases of measles have been confirmed in the US this year.

RFK Jr defended his handling of the measles outbreak in the interview with Dana Bash.

Mr Kennedy was asked if he took any responsibility for the measles surge.

Absolutely not.

Mr Kennedy accused CNN host Dana Bash of repeating like a parrot and becoming flustered.

Worst year for measles in decades

Many health officials have cited a public backlash to the government's pandemic response and blame Mr Kennedy's anti-vaccine policies.

Under the watch of Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr a vaccine-preventable disease has continued to spread across the US.

The whole thing about 'vaccines have been tested and there's been this determination made' is just a lie.

The nation had 2,289 cases in 2025, the most since 1991.

There have been major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah and Arizona, as well as smaller clusters in other states.

International health officials will meet in November to determine if the US and Mexico have lost their measles-free status.

The US eliminated the local spread of measles in 2000 by maintaining high vaccination rates, but in recent years they have fallen below the 95 per cent coverage needed to prevent outbreaks.

Measles cases under-counted

Public health departments and disease researchers have long acknowledged that official counts of disease cases are incomplete.

Measles testing was conducted in Texas in 2025

Experts suspect the spread of measles cases may be wider than has been reported due to the decline in vaccination rates.

National vaccination rates for measles, mumps and rubella have dropped to 92.5 per cent among kindergarteners in the 2024-25 school year.

In Utah, the virus has struck more than 700 people during that time, according to the state health department.

Experts indicate that a large outbreak on the Utah-Arizona border could be three to four times bigger than what is known.

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