MISLEADING CLAIMS
The New York Times
Mr. Kennedy has embraced the debunked theory that vaccines can cause autism and has questioned Covid-19 vaccines.
Notes
For more information on this topic, visit our Investigations page on vaccines and autism.
He has also been linked to a measles outbreak in Samoa.
Mr. Kennedy visited a vaccine skeptic there in 2019, elevating anti-vaccination sentiment after the death of two infants who had received measles shots. The deaths were attributed to a mistake by the nurses who administered the vaccine, not to the vaccine itself. A dip in vaccination rates led to a deadly outbreak in the country. Mr. Kennedy has denied discouraging vaccination in Samoa.
Notes
Assertions of his responsibility for declining coverage due to his visit to Samoa are speculative and lack empirical support. This is in contrast with the obvious impact the Samoan government shutting down its measles vaccination program for nine months after the deaths of the two infants had on elevating anti-vaccination sentiment. Yet, there is no mention of the suspension of the MMR vaccine program anywhere in the article.
Other Stories that do not mention the MMR vaccine program suspension anywhere in the article:
- Ars Technica, 2019: Measles outbreak spurred by anti-vaxxers shuts down Samoan government
- The Guardian, 2019: 'There are no words': Samoa buries its children as measles outbreak worsens
- BBC, 2019: How a wrong injection helped cause Samoa's measles epidemic
- New York Times, 2019: Samoa Closes Schools as Measles Epidemic Kills at Least 16
- New York Times, 2024: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Views on Vaccination ‘Dangerous,’ Says His Ambassador Cousin
Related News Publications
RFK Jr. appears before Congress as his comments spreading misinformation draw scrutiny
Samoa measles outbreak: WHO blames anti-vaccine scare as death toll hits 39
Measles outbreak spurred by anti-vaxxers shuts down Samoan government
