Mainstream media, including CNN, has portrayed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a proponent of vaccine misinformation and accused him of making antisemitic remarks regarding Covid-19. However, the media refuses to report the context of his statement and the fact that he was talking about an NIH funded study.
What CNN Reported:
CNN and other media outlets reported that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made antisemitic remarks by suggesting that Covid-19 was engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people. During a congressional hearing, Congresswoman Schultz echoed this sentiment, accusing Kennedy of spreading a baseless conspiracy theory.
Kennedy’s Response:
Kennedy clarified under oath that he was referencing a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was not promoting a conspiracy theory. He stated that his remarks were taken out of context and misrepresented by the media.
The Study in Question:
The study Kennedy referred to can be found here. The research indicates that a specific genetic variant, ACE2-K26R, which is more frequent in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, may decrease the electrostatic attraction between SARS-CoV-2 and the ACE2 receptor. This scientific finding was discussed in a private setting where Kennedy was assured that no recording devices were allowed. He later told CNN that he would have never said those remarks knowing they were going to be taken out of context like they were. Kennedy told CNN, “I wish I hadn’t said them, you know. What I said was true, the only reason I wouldn’t talk publicly about this … is that I know that there’s people out there who are antisemitic and can misuse any information.”
Context and Misrepresentation:
The media’s portrayal of Kennedy’s remarks as antisemitic neglects the context in which they were made. He was discussing a legitimate scientific study and not endorsing any conspiracy theory. The selective reporting by outlets like CNN has contributed to a misunderstanding of Kennedy’s intentions and statements and, in bad faith, interfered in the election process.
What CNN Reported:
CNN and other media sources have labeled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a leading proponent of vaccine misinformation. This characterization has been used to discredit his views and public statements on vaccines and public health.
Kennedy’s Advocacy:
Kennedy has been a vocal advocate for vaccine safety and transparency. He has raised concerns about vaccine ingredients, the regulatory processes, and potential conflicts of interest between pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies. Kennedy’s stance is often misrepresented as being entirely anti-vaccine, whereas he emphasizes the need for safer vaccines and informed consent. It is important to note that Kennedy has stated that he will not take anyone’s vaccines away.
The Broader Issue:
The label of “vaccine misinformation” is frequently used to dismiss legitimate concerns and criticisms of the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory practices. Kennedy’s advocacy for vaccine safety should be seen in the context of promoting public health and ensuring that vaccines are safe and effective for all individuals. This is no different from his public health stance on other medicines and even getting rid of harmful chemicals in our food and water.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been unfairly characterized by mainstream media as promoting antisemitic ideas and spreading vaccine misinformation. By examining the context of his statements and the scientific research he referenced, it becomes clear that these claims are based on selective reporting and misrepresentation. Kennedy’s commitment to vaccine safety and transparency reflects a broader concern for public health, and his efforts should be understood in this light.
Reality: The CDC data shows that measles has never been entirely eradicated in the United States. Although there was a rise in measles cases following the easing of lockdowns and travel restrictions in 2020, this was to be expected. The majority of measles cases in the U.S. are imported, meaning they are brought in by travelers who contract the disease abroad and then bring it into the country. With the lifting of travel bans, the number of imported cases naturally increased. However, it is important to note that the overall number of measles cases has dropped significantly since 2019.
Contrary to popular belief, measles has never been completely eliminated from the United States. Measles cases have been recorded every year. Nearly all measles cases were imported cases, meaning a traveler was exposed abroad and brought it into the U.S.
Below is a breakdown of measles cases by year from the CDC, highlighting the fluctuation in case numbers and the presence of measles in the U.S. even before the recent debates over vaccination:
The 2019 measles outbreak in the United States saw a significant rise in cases, from 381 in 2018 to 1,274 in 2019. This increase is often cited as evidence of a resurgence linked to anti-vaccine rhetoric. However, the details of the outbreak reveal a different story. According to a New England Journal of Medicine analysis, the outbreak began when one unvaccinated child returned home from abroad with measles, triggering a localized outbreak in New York City.
This was not a widespread outbreak across the entire U.S. but rather a concentrated incident in the Williamsburg area. 72.9% of cases between September 30, 2018, and July 15, 2019 were from this area.
The New England Journal of Medicine study reports that “85.8% of the patients with a known vaccination history were unvaccinated.” This statistic is often used to argue that unvaccinated individuals are primarily responsible for measles outbreaks. However, it’s important to note potential biases in reporting vaccinated cases. The study highlights that:
“Because of the potential for a false positive IgM assay, patients who lacked clinical information and had only a positive IgM assay were included only if they were confirmed to be unvaccinated, since the likelihood of a true infection would increase in the absence of vaccination.”
This suggests that vaccinated cases may have been underreported due to the exclusion of cases that could not be confirmed through clinical information. The bias towards reporting unvaccinated cases can skew the perception of the role of vaccination in measles outbreaks.
Interestingly, Brooklyn also experienced a mumps outbreak in 2009. The analysis of the 2009 mumps outbreak provides critical insights:
“Transmission was focused within… schools for boys, where students spend many hours daily in intense, face-to-face interaction… The epidemiologic features of this outbreak suggest that intense exposures, particularly among boys in schools, facilitated transmission and overcame vaccine-induced protection in these patients.”
The mumps outbreak, which occurred among a highly vaccinated population, was driven by the high-density, close-contact environment of the schools, which facilitated the spread of the virus despite vaccination. This context is crucial for understanding the dynamics of infectious diseases. Vaccination is never 100% effective and other factors can contribute to an outbreak.
According to a CDC analysis, “During January 1, 2020–March 28, 2024, CDC was notified of 338 confirmed measles cases; 97 (29%) of these cases occurred during the first quarter of 2024, representing a more than seventeenfold increase over the mean number of cases reported during the first quarter of 2020–2023. However, this is expected as travel restrictions and lockdowns were in place in 2020. As we learned, most cases are imported. Travel restrictions being lifted are the primary reason for the increase in cases since 2020. It is notable to point out that the U.S. still has less cases so far in 2024 (151 measles cases) than in 2019, 2018. 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, and more.
As you can see below, the highest vaccination year was also the year of the 2019 measles outbreak. According to the CDC, the vaccination rate for kindergarteners was 95.2%. Once again, this suggests that outbreaks are more nuanced than vaccination rates.
The claim that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is responsible for the resurgence of measles is baseless and misleading. Data shows that measles has never been fully eradicated in the U.S., and recent outbreaks are primarily due to imported cases, not domestic anti-vaccine sentiment. The 2019 outbreak was localized in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and caused by international travel, not a widespread anti-vaccine movement. High vaccination rates in 2019 and a similar mumps outbreak in 2009 in the same community illustrate that other factors, like close-contact environments, contribute to disease spread.
Blaming Kennedy is misleading and ignores the true causes of these outbreaks. It also ignores the fact that vaccination is never 100% effective and that while you may have a reduced risk of measles, mumps, and rubella, you can also have other side effects. “I think some of the live virus vaccines are probably averting more problems than they’re causing,” Kennedy told Lex Fridman. The CDC says, “There are risks in taking any medicine, vitamin or other supplement.” A person should have the bodily autonomy to weigh the risks and benefits for themselves to make an informed decision. Read more about his vaccine stance here. Kennedy is also running to end the chronic disease epidemic. We are paying more for healthcare than anywhere in the world but have the worst health outcomes. Read more about his policies here.
Reality: RFK Jr. is not anti-vaxx; he is pro-science and advocates for vaccine safety, transparency, and informed consent. He has said, “My vaccination policy will not take away vaccines from anybody who wants access to them.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly clarified that both he and his children are vaccinated. This fact directly contradicts the label of “anti-vaxxer.” During his testimony before Congress on July 20th, 2023, he addressed these accusations head-on:
“At one point you say I’m anti-vaxx and that’s a bad thing. The other moment you point out that all my children are vaxxed. I’m fully compliant with the vaccine schedule myself except for COVID. I took flu vaccines for 20 years straight. I have never been anti-vaxx.”
Kennedy emphasizes the importance of rigorous testing and transparency in vaccine development. His primary concern is that vaccines should undergo the same rigorous safety and efficacy testing as other medical products. In an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen on May 26th, 2024, he stated:
“What I want is good testing, good safety testing for vaccines, good efficacy testing so that everybody knows and can make informed consent about whether they want this product or not, whether it’s good for their age group, whether it’s good for their cohort, whether it’s good for them. And let’s do the same kind of safety testing that we require for other drugs and we don’t do that for vaccines.”
Under U.S. Code § 300aa–22, the law acknowledges that vaccines have unavoidable side effects, which is why vaccine manufacturers are generally immune from liability in most cases:
“(b) Unavoidable adverse side effects; warnings (1) No vaccine manufacturer shall be liable in a civil action for damages arising from a vaccine-related injury or death associated with the administration of a vaccine after October 1, 1988, if the injury or death resulted from side effects that were unavoidable even though the vaccine was properly prepared and was accompanied by proper directions and warnings.”
RFK Jr simply believes that vaccine manufacturers should not have blanket immunity. These companies are not immune when patients have adverse effects from their pharmaceutical drugs; vaccines should be no different.
RFK Jr. strongly believes that vaccination should be a personal choice and opposes mandatory vaccination policies. He argues that no medical intervention should be mandated without informed consent. In the same interview with Cohen, he emphasized:
“My vaccination policy will not take away vaccines from anybody who wants access to them. My only issue is they should not be mandated. I don’t think any medical intervention should be mandated.”
Kennedy’s stance is clear: while he supports the availability of vaccines for those who want them, he opposes mandates and insists on the necessity of informed consent based on transparent and thorough safety data. The more data that is available, the more people will feel confident to make the right choice.
Take smoking as an example. Doctors at one time said smoking was fine for people, even pregnant women. While cigarettes are not banned, their use has gone down as additional science was performed. This gives consumers informed consent.
Kennedy’s work as an environmental lawyer includes significant efforts to remove mercury from waterways. Mercury is a known toxin, and the CDC warns about its dangers:
“All forms of mercury can affect the nervous system and the kidneys.”
This is a stance that CDC contradicts itself on. On one hand, it says all forms of mercury are dangerous, on the other hand, they say some forms of mercury are ok in vaccines.
“Two types of mercury to which people may be exposed — methylmercury and ethylmercury — are very different.”
Through his environmental advocacy, Kennedy discovered that mercury was also present in vaccines in the form of thimerosal, a preservative. Worried moms started to appear at all his events to tell him about their experiences with vaccines and how they believe their children were harmed by them. These moms knew RFK Jr. was serious about getting mercury out of fish, so they wanted him to be serious about it in all aspects.
He campaigned for its removal from vaccines. Today, mercury is out of some vaccines, but not all. According to the CDC, “Influenza (flu) vaccines are currently available in both thimerosal-containing (for multi-dose vaccine vials) and thimerosal-free versions.”
Many vaccines also contain aluminum. “More research attention has been given to EtHg and findings have showed a solid link with neurotoxic effects in humans; however, the potential synergic effect of both toxic agents has not been properly studied,” were the findings in this analysis.
“I fought to remove mercury from fish but nobody called me anti-fish.”
This quote encapsulates his position: advocating for the removal of a harmful substance does not equate to opposing the entire category. Similarly, advocating for vaccine safety does not make him anti-vaccine.
Labeling Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as “anti-vaxx” oversimplifies his position and misrepresents his advocacy efforts. RFK Jr. is pro-science and focuses on vaccine safety, transparency, and regulatory reform. He supports the use of vaccines that are thoroughly tested and proven safe and believes that enhancing public trust in vaccines requires addressing valid safety concerns and ensuring that regulatory processes are transparent and free from conflicts of interest.
This mini documentary goes through the smear campaign on RFK Jr, his environmental work, how he learned about mercury in vaccines, and what he wants to do going forward.