Two days after initially downplaying the outbreak as “not unusual,” the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, on Friday said he recognizes the serious impact of the ongoing measles epidemic in Texas – in which a child died recently – and said the government is providing resources, including protective vaccines.

“Ending the measles outbreak is a top priority for me and my extraordinary team,” Kennedy – an avowed anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist who for years has sown doubts about the safety and efficacy of vaccines – said in a post on X.

Kennedy said his federal Department of Health and Human Services would send Texas 2,000 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine – typically meant to be given to children in a series of two shots at 12 to 15 months old as well as between the ages of four and six years old – through its immunization program.

  • ctkatz@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    14 days ago

    and the cultists will say “SEE HE’S DOING SOMETHING HE SUPPORTS VACCINES!!!eleven!!!”, the media will praise the administration for this action, and the smart ones will point out that 2000 vaccine doses for a measles outbreak is a pathetically small number that might stem the tide a bit at best. this entire response has been an absolute clusterfuck and our spineless media won’t call it out for fear of retaliation.