RFK Jr. Vows Vaccine Risk Probe at Anti-Vaccine Conference

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered the keynote address Thursday at a conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group he co-founded. Kennedy told attendees they have a "strong and steadfast friend in the White House," asserting that the Trump administration is turning the group's priorities into federal policy.

Kennedy praised President Donald Trump for efforts to downsize the childhood vaccination schedule, including an executive order to space out the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, though some of these measures were halted by a judge. He declared his willingness to "die with my boots on" to investigate vaccine risks and vowed to examine the potential links between vaccines and chronic diseases, as well as the effects of chemtrails and electromagnetic radiation. Additionally, Kennedy appointed eight new members to a federal health care access task force he had previously blocked.

The appearance occurred during the deadliest U.S. measles outbreak in 35 years. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned the speech, stating Kennedy chose to address a "vaccine-denial conference" rather than urging vaccination during a public health crisis. While Pennsylvania reported four deaths among unvaccinated individuals this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported no measles deaths for 2026. Kennedy maintained that the administration has preserved vaccine access while asking questions that parents have raised for years.