Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. paid a visit to mourning families in Seminole, Texas, where two young unvaccinated girls recently succumbed to measles. Although Kennedy later posted on X, declaring the MMR vaccine as the strongest safeguard against the virus, he reportedly steered clear of discussing vaccines during his in-person interactions, including at the funeral of 8-year-old Daisy Hildebrand.
Pete Hildebrand, Daisy’s father, shared with The Guardian that Kennedy made no mention of the vaccine’s value during their conversations. “We even had dinner together—he didn’t bring it up,” Hildebrand recalled, expressing disappointment over what he saw as a gap between Kennedy’s public messaging and his private words.
Kennedy, who has a well-documented history of expressing doubts about vaccine mandates, stirred controversy by suddenly embracing pro-vaccine language online. Just last month, he argued in a Fox News opinion piece that getting vaccinated should remain a personal decision. This abrupt shift has caught public health officials, politicians, and vaccine-skeptic circles off guard.
In early March, Kennedy deployed CDC teams across Texas to bolster state and local responses, including ensuring MMR doses and supplies reached public clinics and pharmacies.
Meanwhile, Hildebrand remains unconvinced. He insists the vaccine didn’t help his vaccinated relatives, claiming they experienced more severe symptoms than his unvaccinated children.
As of April 7, the U.S. has seen 642 measles cases across 22 states, with Texas accounting for 499 and three deaths nationwide, a sharp rise from 285 cases in 2024.
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