(Gray News) – Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is touting the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine as the “most effective” way to prevent someone from catching measles.
“The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine,” Kennedy wrote on X Sunday after a second child in Texas died from the illness.
Kennedy said in a social media post that he was working to “control the outbreak” and went to Gaines County, Texas, to comfort the families of the two children who had died after catching measles.
Texas is dealing with a major outbreak of the virus with nearly 500 measles cases in the state. More than 20 states nationwide have recorded measles cases so far this year.
Kennedy had previously downplayed what was happening in Texas and faced criticism for his agency’s response to the measles outbreak.
Before taking his role as Health Secretary, Kennedy had previously stated that no vaccine is safe and effective. He now denies that he is an “anti-vaxxer.”
Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the CDC. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years.
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