RFK Jr. Sparks Vaccine Controversy Amid Texas Measles Outbreak

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reignited vaccine controversy this week by repeating debunked claims about the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine during a growing measles outbreak, one of the worst in 25 years. Kennedy alleged that the vaccine contains cells from aborted fetuses and questioned the efficacy of the mumps component, sparking backlash from medical experts.

The outbreak, centered in a Mennonite community in Texas, has spread to Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico, infecting hundreds and killing two children. Scientists warn the U.S. may lose its measles elimination status, achieved in 2000, if vaccination rates continue to decline.

Kennedy, long known for promoting vaccine skepticism, claimed in a News Nation interview that religious groups avoid the MMR vaccine due to "aborted fetus debris." However, experts clarified that while the rubella component is produced using a fetal cell line from a 1960s abortion, no actual fetal cells are present in the final vaccine. These lab-grown cells have been replicated for decades and are filtered out during production, leaving only a purified, weakened virus.

According to Dr. Miriam Laufer from the University of Maryland and Dr. Paulo Verardi from the University of Connecticut, any DNA remnants in the final vaccine are negligible—measured in billionths of a gram.

Kennedy also said the mumps portion of the vaccine “doesn’t work” and lacked proper safety testing. However, the CDC reports that two doses of MMR provide about 86% protection against mumps. While immunity may wane over time, vaccinated individuals typically experience milder symptoms if infected.

The Department of Health and Human Services declined to comment on Kennedy’s statements, which many experts say undermine public trust in proven vaccine science.