Shapiro's Strategy For Tackling Measles Outbreak: Don't Listen To Rfk Jr.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro offered advice to constituents concerned about the commonwealth’s growing measles outbreak: Don’t listen to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation” that aired Sunday, the Democratic governor accused Kennedy of spreading misinformation that has led to fewer parents vaccinating their children against the deadly disease that the U.S. had declared eradicated back in 2000.

“Make no mistake, you can draw a straight line between the nonsense that RFK has been spewing for years and now his work as the leading public health official in this country and people getting sick here in my state and across the country,” Shapiro said.

A spokesperson for Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Shapiro’s comments are the latest in a public dispute between the governor and the nation’s top public health official as Pennsylvania finds itself home to the worst measles outbreak the U.S. has seen in decades. The epicenter of the outbreak is central Pennsylvania, where Lancaster County has reported three measles-associated deaths, including that of two infants. Two other deaths have also been recorded in other counties.

Kennedy has long espoused doubts about the efficacy of childhood vaccines, including the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, commonly referred to as the MMR vaccine. Earlier this year, he alleged that one of Shapiro's staffers fabricated the deaths.

The state’s health department in September requested emergency support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — with the caveat that the agency recognize the measles-related deaths reported by the state.

Shapiro on Sunday did not say if he regrets the way his administration chose to handle the situation, instead accusing Kennedy of politicizing the outbreak and calling for President Donald Trump to remove the secretary from his position.

“This guy, he is not qualified to serve as America's top public health official,” said Shapiro. “He is not a health expert and he is constantly undermining public health here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and across the country.”