All posts tagged "Measles"

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked fresh backlash after his staff tried to wave off a reporter's pointed question.

The moment came Thursday, when Kennedy was speaking alongside Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), who is running for reelection. A staffer cut in as a reporter began asking Kennedy about five deaths, and potentially a sixth, from measles in Pennsylvania.

"We're also not going to talk about measles," the staffer said, having already brushed aside a question about whether "the war" had affected Kiggans' campaign....

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a rebuke from a governor irked about two of his residents dying from measles.

According to a report by MeidasTouch, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) revealed on Tuesday that he confronted RFK Jr. about "scaring people" with conspiracy theories about vaccines. The confrontation came after two Pennsylvania residents died from measles.

"While I appreciate his willingness to offer staff to assist us, we think we're able to manage this through the Department of Health," Shapiro said during an appearance in Lancaster. According to MeidasTouch, Shapiro also released a statement on Tuesday that confirmed his refusal of RFK Jr.'s offer to send federal personnel to Pennsylvania to respond to the growing measles outbreak....

Comedian John Mulaney had a fierce smackdown for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in front of a large audience at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend.

Mulaney was performing at the "Night Of Too Many Stars," a benefit for autism programs featuring top comics at the Los Angeles venue, when he dug into Kennedy's role and reputation in the Trump administration, TMZ reported. He started the monologue off by describing his own past experience with Kennedy.

"This is the best benefit I've done since Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Riverkeeper's benefit 10 years ago," Mulaney said, impersonating Kennedy's voice. ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s principal deputy director, Dr. Ralph Abraham, has stepped down from his role and left the agency effective immediately, according to reports released Monday.

Abraham reportedly decided to step down "to address unforeseen family obligations," according to a statement from the CDC. No further details were released.

"It has been an honor to serve alongside the dedicated public health professionals at the CDC and to support the agency's critical mission," Abraham said....

Anti-abortion protesters who travelled to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life ended up at a measles super spreader-event, according to health officials.

Thousands of pro-lifers came for the Jan. 23 march and concert at the National Mall and now the D.C. Department of Health has reported multiple cases of the potentially fatal disease reported in the weeks after, The New Republic reported.

"The march is a big event for religious conservatives, this year attracting politicians such as Vice President JD Vance, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Republican Representative Chris Smith," according to The New Republic. "Many on the right oppose vaccination, with some citing religious reasons, making the march a possible hotbed of measles infections." ...

Doctors were bewildered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s directive for federal agencies to seek new measles treatments — including vitamins — instead of promoting long-established safe and effective vaccinations, according to The New York Times.

“This is akin to saying, ‘Go ahead and eat whatever you want, don’t exercise, smoke like a chimney — we’re going to invest all of our resources in heart transplants,’” the Times quoted Dr. Jonathan Temte, a former chairman of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee.

The nation is in the grips of the "largest single measles outbreak in 25 years," the Times reported. "On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 930 cases nationwide, most of which are associated with the Southwest outbreak" that killed two young girls....