'So-called' deaths: RFK Jr says Pennsylvania lied about historic measles deaths
RFK Jr defends measles: "In 10 years, there have been 3 measles deaths in America. There are now about 1.2 million deaths every year from food-induced illness. The media and certain demagogic politicians are constantly trying to scare us about infectious disease." pic.twitter.com/Bq9JvzfpE5
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 29, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, during a television appearance, claimed that Pennsylvania has refused to share information on two "so-called" measles deaths.
The measles deaths turned into political controversy after Pennsylvania officials announced the state's first measles-related deaths in 35 years. Two unvaccinated residents from Lancaster County died from 'measles-associated' conditions during a major outbreak.
Pennsylvania withholds information amid measles dispute
Robert F Kennedy Jr, during a town hall on Fox News’ 'Saturday in America', said that the administration is still trying to get information about the so-called measles deaths in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
His reply came after a woman from the audience referenced the two measles fatalities in the Keystone State before asking Kennedy, “Please tell me if you think the measles, MMR vaccinations should be mandatory.”
Kennedy also claimed Gov Josh Shapiro had rolled out the “Covid playbook” in announcing the historic deaths.
Further asserting that the state lied about the measles deaths in the region, Kennedy said, “I talked with the county coroner or the county commissioner this morning, and he says there were no measles deaths.”
RFK Jr accuses Josh Shapiro of politicizing measles deaths
Kennedy accused Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro of politicizing the measles deaths and claimed the governor has not been able to identify any child who died from measles in Lancaster County.
“There was a press conference by the governor. It was highly pretty politicized, and we saw a lot of the Covid playbook rolled out where there was finger-pointing and politicizing and fear-mongering, but the governor has not been able to point to any child who died from measles in Lancaster County,” RFK Jr said.
RFK Jr refers to measles deaths as "so-called 'measles deaths' in Lancaster County. I talked with the country coroner or the county commissioner this morning and he says there were no measles deaths. There was a press conference by the governor that was highly politicized, and we… pic.twitter.com/J9Gvdz7xHn
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 29, 2026
“We’ve asked repeatedly, the county health department has asked repeatedly, so we’re trying to get that information,” he added.
Kennedy says the US beat measles better than any country
Kennedy also blamed Covid-era lockdowns for a decline in MMR vaccination rates and a rise in measles cases worldwide.
“We’ve done better at controlling measles than any country in the world. We have a global measles epidemic right now that’s occurring because during Covid lockdowns children did not get vaccinated across the globe, and a lot of people across the globe lost faith in the public health system, so vaccination rates for the MMR dropped from 97% to 92.3%, and so you’re seeing more kids with measles,” he said.
The United States had eradicated measles in 2000 before cases of the infectious disease surged to record numbers so far this year, with more than 2,300 cases.
