Coverage dated February 26, 2025 to March 2, 2025

Vaccine critic RFK Jr. backs measles vaccine amid deadly Texas outbreak

Headline from CBS News, on the newest of 3 developments

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a noted vaccine skeptic, is voicing support for the measles vaccine amid a deadly outbreak, mainly in Texas.

CBS News's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

Feb 27, 2025
With RFK Jr. at his side, a measles outbreak could prove ‘politically perilous' for Trump
Headline from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth ·
Feb 28, 2025
Fact check: RFK Jr. minimizes measles outbreak in Texas
Headline from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth ·
Mar 3, 2025Newest
Vaccine critic RFK Jr. backs measles vaccine amid deadly Texas outbreak
Headline from CBS News ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

15 articles, oldest first.

NBC News
With RFK Jr. at his side, a measles outbreak could prove 'politically perilous' for Trump (opens NBC News)
Published Feb 26, 2025
NBC News's feed description
Trump's choice of RFK Jr. to be HHS secretary poses a risk to GOP lawmakers in the midterm elections if measles, bird flu, ebola or another disease rips through the country.
STAT
On measles outbreak, the Trump administration’s messaging strikes some as off-key (opens STAT)
Published Feb 26, 2025
STAT's feed description
Experts fear tepid statements from health secretary RFK Jr. and federal agencies reflect hesitancy to endorse importance of vaccination
The Columbian
Health Secretary RFK Jr. downplays measles outbreak after child dies in Texas (opens The Columbian)
Published Feb 26, 2025
The Columbian's feed description
Newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared to dismiss a rare measles outbreak that has killed a child in Texas and sickened more than 120 people.
Science News
What experts say about childhood vaccines amid the Texas measles outbreak (opens Science News)
Published Feb 27, 2025
Science News's feed description
As the Texas measles outbreak grows and HHS head RFK Jr. puts vaccines under new scrutiny, two experts answer questions about the public health tool.
CNN
RFK Jr. said measles outbreaks are ‘not unusual’ in the US. Doctors say he’s wrong (opens CNN)
Published Feb 27, 2025
CNN's feed description
When Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy answered questions during the first cabinet meeting of the new Trump administration, he incorrectly described the number of people who died in a West Texas measles outbreak and the reason people were hospitalized.
Washington Examiner
How RFK Jr. should address measles outbreak (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Feb 27, 2025
Washington Examiner's feed description
There is a conspicuous lack of encouragement from Kennedy for people in Texas, New Mexico, or elsewhere around the country to get the MMR vaccine.
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
Fact check: RFK Jr. minimizes measles outbreak in Texas (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)
Published Feb 27, 2025
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description
Kennedy has a long history of sharing inaccurate information about vaccines, including the measles vaccine
FactCheck.org
RFK Jr. Minimizes Measles Outbreak in Texas (opens FactCheck.org)
Published Feb 27, 2025
FactCheck.org's feed description
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of the Department of Health and Human Services, downplayed the seriousness of an ongoing measles outbreak in Texas, falsely claiming that people had been hospitalized “mainly for quarantine” and misleadingly stating that the situation is “not unusual.
The Daily Dot
MAHA furious at 'total fraud' RFK Jr. after he backs measles vaccine amid outbreak (opens The Daily Dot)
Published Mar 2, 2025
The Daily Dot's feed description
Supporters of President Donald Trump are up in arms after RFK Jr. endorsed on Sunday the measles vaccine in a Fox News op-ed.
Al Jazeera
RFK Jr, noted vaccine sceptic, backs measles jab amid deadly US outbreak (opens Al Jazeera)
Published Mar 2, 2025
Al Jazeera's feed description
US health secretary says he is ‘deeply concerned’ about outbreak in Texas.
New York Post
Vaccine skeptic HHS chief RFK Jr. touts measles shot as deadly outbreak ravages Texas (opens New York Post)
Published Mar 2, 2025
New York Post's feed description
Infamous-vax-doubting Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touted the benefits of the measles vaccine Sunday as a growing deadly outbreak of the disease ravages Texas.
Breitbart News
RFK Jr. Supports Measles Vaccine as Texas Outbreak Builds (opens Breitbart News)
Published Mar 2, 2025
Breitbart News's feed description
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his "deep concern" about the Texas measles outbreak and cautioned that parents should consult with health-care providers “to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine” for their children.
CBS News
Vaccine critic RFK Jr. backs measles vaccine amid deadly Texas outbreak (opens CBS News)
Published Mar 2, 2025
CBS News's feed description
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a noted vaccine skeptic, is voicing support for the measles vaccine amid a deadly outbreak, mainly in Texas.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.