Known for his anti-vaccination stance, the new US Secretary of Health is facing his first challenge: Curbing the mainly Texas-based measles epidemic which has been encouraged by low vaccination coverage.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a noted vaccine skeptic, voiced support on Sunday for the measles jab, as an outbreak of the disease spreads.
In an interview, the H.H.S. secretary claimed that unconventional treatments were helping patients but described vaccination as a personal choice.
In the 18 days since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, his department has postponed or canceled two major vaccine advisory committee meetings,
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, seemingly reversed course and touted benefits of MMR vaccine amid deadly Texas measles outbreak.
Kennedy has touted the benefits of an unconventional measles treatment including the steroid budesonide, the antibiotic clarithromycin and cod liver oil, which has high concentrations of vitamin A.