Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered a keynote address on Thursday at a conference for an anti-vaccine activist group he once chaired, the Children’s Health Defense. This marked his first appearance at the event since taking on the secretary role. Kennedy had previously stepped away from the organization when he launched his presidential campaign in 2023. During his speech, he emphasized that President Donald Trump’s administration was a strong ally for the group’s initiatives, asserting that they had accomplished significant changes in vaccine policy over the past 19 months.
Kennedy declared, “Let me be clear: You have a strong and steadfast friend in the White House. We’ve accomplished in 19 months things that would have seemed unthinkable two years ago.” His remarks included references to long-standing concerns about vaccine safety, highlighting how views considered fringe have gained traction under the Trump administration.
During his speech, Kennedy boasted about the administration’s efforts to reduce the childhood vaccination schedule and revise a key vaccine advisory board—even though these steps have recently been halted by judicial intervention. He praised Trump for advocating changes to vaccine guidelines, including an executive order aimed at spacing out the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which contradicts recommendations from public health organizations.
This executive order, coupled with Kennedy’s presence at the Children’s Health Defense conference, represents a shift in focus for the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Earlier this year, both organizations seemed to pivot away from contentious vaccine debates to concentrate on health food initiatives leading up to the November midterm elections. The HHS actively promoted Kennedy’s speech across social media platforms, reaffirming this new direction.
Kennedy, who has a long history of anti-vaccine activism, expanded Children's Health Defense during his tenure as its legal counsel. Since assuming the role of health secretary, he has rapidly advanced changes in public health guidance, particularly around vaccine policy. Critics, including numerous leading medical associations, express concern that these actions contribute to increased vaccine hesitancy and confusion among the public, particularly stemming from the widespread trust issues that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline in public confidence regarding vaccination continues to be a pressing issue.
“We have not taken vaccines away from anybody. We have preserved access. But we have started asking the questions that you and millions of American parents have been asking for years,” Kennedy stated in his address. The CEO of Children’s Health Defense, Mary Holland, addressed Kennedy as “Bobby” and conveyed their gratitude for his recognition of significant issues surrounding childhood vaccinations.
Kennedy's conference appearance coincides with what is reported to be the worst year for measles in the U.S. since 1991, with seven measles-associated fatalities recorded over the past two years—exceeding the total deaths recorded in the previous three decades. In Pennsylvania alone, officials reported four measles-related deaths this year, all involving unvaccinated individuals, which led to a public dispute between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Kennedy following announcements of these fatalities.
Shapiro condemned Kennedy’s participation in the conference, claiming he neglected an opportunity to promote vaccination in favor of attending what he described as the premier vaccine-denial conference in America. He urged that Kennedy should have encouraged vaccinations, stating that instead, his narrative perpetuates fear and distrust among the public.
A representative from the White House did not respond to a request for comments regarding Kennedy’s appearance at the event. Following Kennedy's address, Andrew Wakefield—the discredited author of a study falsely linking the MMR vaccine to autism—also spoke at the conference. Despite the widespread scientific consensus debunking any link between vaccines and autism, the rhetoric surrounding vaccination remains divisive.
Shaughnessy Naughton, founder of 314 Action, criticized Kennedy's choice to speak at the event, arguing it underscores a lack of seriousness in his role at HHS. Naughton asserted that during a severe measles outbreak, Kennedy's best course of action would be to step down from his position.
