RFK Jr. Endorses Universal MMR Guidance From Health Dept.

During four days of Senate hearings, Health Secretary RFK Jr. stated that his department “promotes the M.M.R.” and has advised every child to receive the measles–mumps–rubella vaccine, signaling a shift from his earlier vaccine criticisms and framing the guidance as policy rather than personal advice. Democrats pressed him on why he hadn’t publicly urged universal vaccination before, while he defended his stance by arguing that sanitation and hygiene, not vaccines alone, drove earlier disease declines. He cited a 2000 Pediatrics study to support his point, though critics note the study also highlighted the vaccines’ role in virtually eliminating deaths from diseases like polio and measles. The exchange occurred amid ongoing debates over vaccine messaging during measles outbreaks.