RFK Jr. tells vaccine group they have 'friend' in White House

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense that they have a "friend in the White House" in President Donald Trump. Kennedy delivered the keynote address in Washington, D.C., at a conference hosted by the group. He stated that Trump had given directives to strengthen research, transparency, and parental choice regarding childhood vaccines. Kennedy also mentioned that he wished to implement broader changes sooner but was constrained by governmental procedures and the need to manage his agency competently according to law.

Children's Health Defense, which advocates against the recommended vaccine schedule for children, was co-founded by Kennedy. He resigned from its board before his confirmation as HHS Secretary. The group described the conference as a "timely conversation [that] will take place against a backdrop of unprecedented opportunity and risk for the health freedom movement." Scheduled speakers also included Republican Sens. Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, and Republican Reps. Paul Gosar and Thomas Massie.

Dr. Fiona Havers, an infectious diseases physician and former vaccine expert at the CDC, stated that Children's Health Defense has disseminated false and misleading information that has directly contributed to declining vaccination rates. Havers cited over 3,000 measles cases and four measles-related deaths reported in recent weeks. She told ABC News that Kennedy's appearance at the conference legitimizes the group's message and undermines efforts to control outbreaks.

Kennedy told the audience that Trump asked him to "vigorously investigate the potential contribution of childhood vaccines to the chronic disease epidemic." Kennedy claimed that children now receive 94 doses of 18 vaccines, compared to three when he was a child. Doctors have stated that children typically receive about 30 vaccine doses before age 18, excluding annual flu and COVID-19 shots. Kennedy also raised questions about the potential association between some chronic illnesses and vaccines, particularly those that became epidemic after 1989. Extensive scientific research has shown no causal link between the MMR vaccine and chronic diseases.

Disagreement on Trump's vaccine claims

The Daily Mirror reported that President Trump has made unfounded claims that the vaccine scheme was dangerous and contributed to increased autism diagnoses. It also stated Trump suggested the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine could be lethal if given as a combined injection and called for it to be split into three separate shots. The WBAL report states that Trump has given directives to strengthen research, transparency, and parental choice around childhood vaccines, but does not attribute claims about vaccine danger or autism links to Trump.

What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated digests mention the specific directives President Trump gave regarding strengthening research, transparency, and parental choice around childhood vaccines, as reported by WBAL. None of the centre-rated reports mention Andrew Wakefield's introduction of Kennedy at the conference or Kennedy's statement that he would remain anti-vaccine "as long as I am able," as reported by the Daily Mirror and We Got This Covered, respectively. The right-rated digest does not detail Dr. Fiona Havers' concerns about declining vaccination rates or the specific number of measles cases and deaths cited by other outlets.