The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board is calling on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (I) to set aside his anti-vaccine reputation following a measles outbreak in Texas. The outbreak has affected nearly 50 unvaccinated children.
In an op-ed published this week, the editorial board stated, “We are on record as skeptical of RFK Jr.’s nomination. The Senate confirmed him. Now the best-case scenario would be for Mr. Kennedy to internalize that he is no longer an activist outsider who needs to take provocative potshots to get attention.”
As of last week, 48 children in the South Plains region of Texas have contracted measles, and 13 have been hospitalized. According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, all infected children were either unvaccinated or had an unconfirmed vaccination status.
The WSJ op-ed highlighted that the United States had previously eliminated measles in 2000, meaning there was no continuous spread for at least a year. However, outbreaks in recent years, which experts argue is linked to declining vaccination rates, have led to a resurgence of the disease.
“The tragedy is that this doesn’t have to keep happening,” the editorial board pleaded.
RFK Jr.’s nomination to lead HHS has been divisive, with supporters of President Donald Trump (R) embracing his leadership while critics question his credibility due to his long history of challenging vaccine safety.
Since being announced as President Trump’s pick to lead HHS, RFK Jr. has repeatedly stated he is not anti-vaccine, claiming his main goal is to “Make America Healthy Again,” but the editorial board remains unconvinced.
“RFK Jr. is an environmental lawyer by trade, has long been part of the problem, and at his Senate confirmation hearings he presented himself as just asking questions,” the editorial board wrote. “That undersells his role in spreading doubt and confusion.”
The Texas measles outbreak has now gained national attention, meaning that pressure is mounting from critics who believe that RFK Jr. should clarify his stance on vaccination policy and demonstrate that his leadership at HHS will prioritize public health over past controversies.
