Kennedy's aide tries to block measles question; he blames pandemic-era missed vaccinations
At a Virginia event on Thursday, an aide to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would not discuss measles as a reporter asked about Pennsylvania deaths. Kennedy then answered, blaming people who went unvaccinated during the COVID pandemic.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2On Thursday 15 October, as a reporter began asking Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about "five deaths, potentially six" from measles in Pennsylvania, an aide cut in and said, "We're also not going to talk about measles." NewsweekN “"We're also not going to talk about measles," the aide said.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Raw StoryL “A staffer cut in as a reporter began asking Kennedy about five deaths, and potentially a sixth, from measles in Pennsylvania.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Mixed · 2The exchange took place in Virginia, where Kennedy appeared alongside Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans, who is running for reelection; Newsweek says it followed a healthcare round table in Virginia Beach. NewsweekN “The exchange took place after a healthcare round table in Virginia Beach, where Kennedy appeared alongside Representative Jennifer Kiggans (R. Va).” Read at Newsweek ↗ Raw StoryL “Kennedy was speaking alongside Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), who is running for reelection.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Left · 1Raw Story reports that the same staffer had already brushed aside a question about whether "the war" had affected Kiggans' campaign. Raw StoryL “having already brushed aside a question about whether "the war" had affected Kiggans' campaign.” Read at Raw Story ↗
Mixed · 2The reporter pushed back, saying: "He's the highest-ranking health official in the country. He can answer that question. He's a Cabinet secretary." Raw StoryL “"He can answer that question. He's a Cabinet secretary."” Read at Raw Story ↗ NewsweekN “The reporter pushed back, arguing that Kennedy should answer questions about the outbreak.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Kennedy then answered, saying: "The measles outbreak is occurring because so many people went unvaccinated during the COVID pandemic. And this is something that Anthony Fauci, in fact, predicted." NewsweekN “"The measles outbreak is occurring because so many people went unvaccinated during the COVID pandemic. And this is something that Anthony Fauci, in fact, predicted," he said.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek says the remark referred to a private journal entry Fauci wrote on 6 May 2020, later discussed at a congressional hearing in July, in which he said more than one million children worldwide had missed measles vaccinations because of the shutdown. NewsweekN “Kennedy's remarks referred to a private journal entry written by Fauci on May 6, 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which were later discussed during a congressional hearing in July this year.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Kennedy also defended his administration's response, saying the US had controlled measles better than other countries and citing case numbers in Mexico, Canada and Europe, according to Newsweek. NewsweekN “claiming that the US had controlled measles more effectively than other countries – citing reported case numbers in Mexico, Canada and Europe to support his argument.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Left · 1Online criticism followed. CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner said no one had done more to cast doubt on the MMR vaccine than Kennedy and called blaming Fauci "laughable". Former federal health official Sarah Despres questioned why staff would say the secretary would not discuss measles. The campaign of Democrat Elaine Luria, Kiggans' opponent, also mocked the episode, while media reporter Justin Baragona praised the reporter's persistence. Raw StoryL “"Blaming Tony Fauci is laughable."”“The campaign of former Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA), who is running against Kiggans, also took a shot.”“"Good on the reporter here for steamrolling past that staffer for trying to move on from the measles question,"” Read at Raw Story ↗ Centre · 1On the outbreak itself, Newsweek reports that the CDC counted 4,080 confirmed US cases as of 8 October, against 2,289 in all of 2025 and 285 in 2024, and that Pennsylvania had more than 1,222 cases as of 14 October. NewsweekN “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 4,080 confirmed cases across the country as of October 8, compared with 2,289 for the whole of last year, and 285 in 2024.”“with more than 1,222 cases reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as of October 14.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Pennsylvania officials have reported five measles-associated deaths this year, with a sixth suspected in October, while the CDC has confirmed two nationwide in 2026 with other cases under review; Kennedy and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) are in dispute over the death count and the federal response. NewsweekN “Pennsylvania officials have reported five measles-associated deaths this year, with a sixth suspected death announced in October. The CDC, however, has confirmed two measles-associated deaths nationwide in 2026, with other cases under review.”“The state's outbreak has prompted a dispute between Kennedy and Governor Josh Shapiro (D. Pa) over the number of deaths associated with the disease and the federal response.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Kennedy has claimed Pennsylvania declined CDC epidemic-investigation help, while the CDC announced this week it would send additional assistance to the state. Kindergarten MMR coverage fell to 92.4 per cent in 2025-26, below the roughly 95 per cent needed for community protection. NewsweekN “claiming that Pennsylvania had declined an offer of federal assistance through the CDC's epidemic investigation programme.”“fell to 92.4 per cent in the 2025 to 2026 school year, below the 95 per cent level generally needed to maintain community protection against sustained transmission.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the episode as a staff attempt to shield Kennedy, followed by backlash, built largely on critics' social media reactions.
- Emphasis
- Reactions from a CNN analyst, a former health official, MeidasTouch and the Democratic opponent's campaign, plus praise for the reporter.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out outbreak figures, the Fauci journal context, and the Kennedy–Shapiro dispute over deaths.
- Charged language
- “Outrage”“Laughable”“tries to save him”
- For example
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“Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked fresh backlash after his staff tried to wave off a reporter's pointed question.” — Raw Story
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports the exchange, then gives outbreak context: case counts, the Kennedy–Shapiro dispute, vaccination rates and the Fauci journal entry.
- Emphasis
- Data on cases, deaths and vaccine coverage, and Kennedy's record of vaccine skepticism.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not quote online critics or the Luria campaign; omits the aide's earlier brush-off about Kiggans' campaign.
- For example
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“The United States is experiencing its worst measles resurgence in decades, with cases already far exceeding the total recorded throughout 2025.” — Newsweek
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- An aide said "We're also not going to talk about measles" as a reporter asked Kennedy about five deaths, potentially six, in Pennsylvania.
- Kennedy appeared with Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia.
- The reporter pushed back, and Kennedy then answered, blaming people who went unvaccinated during the COVID pandemic and citing Fauci.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Kennedy's explanation for the outbreak holds up
- Left
- Raw Story relays critics who call blaming Fauci "laughable" and note Kennedy's record of casting doubt on the MMR vaccine.
- Centre
- Newsweek reports the Fauci journal entry Kennedy referred to, and separately notes his longstanding vaccine skepticism and past leadership of Children's Health Defense.
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Measles death toll
- Centre
- Newsweek reports Pennsylvania officials count five deaths, with a sixth suspected, while the CDC has confirmed two nationwide in 2026; this is a dispute between Kennedy and Gov. Shapiro.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. person
Kennedy attributes the outbreak to people going unvaccinated during the COVID pandemic, cites Fauci, and says the US has handled measles better than other countries; he has also said Pennsylvania declined CDC help.
“"The measles outbreak is occurring because so many people went unvaccinated during the COVID pandemic.” — Newsweek
“claiming that Pennsylvania had declined an offer of federal assistance through the CDC's epidemic investigation programme.” — Newsweek
Left1 article
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Outrage after RFK Jr.'s staff tries to save him from measles question: 'Laughable'
Critical Presents the aide's intervention as an attempt to protect Kennedy and amplifies critical reactions to his Fauci remark.
Centre1 article
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Staffers Try To Stop RFK Jr Being Asked About Measles
Neutral Straight account of the exchange with extensive outbreak data and context, noting Kennedy's vaccine-skeptic background.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 15 Oct 21:49 First Raw StoryL Outrage after RFK Jr.'s staff tries to save him from measles question: 'Laughable'
- 16 Oct 16:44 +18h 55m NewsweekN Staffers Try To Stop RFK Jr Being Asked About Measles
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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