‘The same Bobby Kennedy’: How RFK Jr.’s vaccine criticism came rushing back The health secretary is questioning vaccines and downplaying measles, once again

https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/16/robert-kennedy-moderate-for-hhs-confirmation-returns-to-anti-vaccine-roots/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--cnY2SJLUIPiVZnKCH2E5376Ar8qqpCXDdU7PpU5IUn_-IJxIuRZEnnYoUV_l1uqi47dSEobqWb0rXMyen8akLfNfVqQ&_hsmi=357118970&utm_content=357118970&utm_source=hs_email ‘The same Bobby Kennedy’ Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says that HHS will determine the cause of autism by September. And at a press conference yesterday, he said the agency will announce a series of new studies investigating the disorder’s rising numbers “within three weeks, probably — we’re hoping two weeks.” But who is “we”? https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/15/rfk-jr-says-rising-autism-rates-an-epidemic-researchers-disagree/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9N6wM5E78zMyVNhgQSNF9Z8ooQZlLxl7nymjDTKs1DqTXO1B9-pgXF-QQQWQt6nfyG15LTMxK0H7dGhozvbUeQQ_HQWA&_hsmi=357118970&utm_content=357118970&utm_source=hs_email There’s little sign that Kennedy has a team in place yet, STAT’s Isabella Cueto reports. Nearly two dozen prominent voices from both mainstream autism research and the anti-vaccine world said they have not been approached by Kennedy, and have no details about the proposed studies. Read more in Isa’s status update. https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/16/rfk-jr-cause-of-autism-study-by-september-prominent-scientists-not-involved-so-far/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ar8Tf8hReE4zQlb6Wz5v0spxQBKcSMvcYf6-uA5cAF_OU8fmgsBtqtllXxAExG7k0RJ340GcowLfvKwg14ss5_BaaXg&_hsmi=357118970&utm_content=357118970&utm_source=hs_email Kennedy’s recent comments on autism are just one example of how he has frequently returned to old anti-vaccine talking points. “He’s the same Bobby Kennedy, 100%,” said Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, the anti-vaccine advocacy group Kennedy founded. The return to old rhetoric comes after months of downplaying his past criticism of vaccines as he sought to become the nation’s health secretary. Read more from Daniel Payne about how the vaccine criticism came rushing back.