Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is facing backlash for supporting the confirmation of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. following the first U.S. measles death in a decade.
Newsweek reached out for comment to Cassidy’s office and HHS via email on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Prior to widely available measles vaccines, the highly contagious illness infected millions in the U.S. and killed between 400 and 500 people per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. but has since made a comeback that experts have linked to rising anti-vaccine sentiment. Sporadic outbreaks happen somewhat frequently and occur overwhelmingly in unvaccinated populations.
Kennedy has a long history of promoting anti-vaccine views. In 2021, the Center for Countering Digital Hate named him one of “the disinformation dozen,” a group of 12 “anti-vaxxers” who were “responsible for almost two-thirds of anti‑vaccine content circulating on social media platforms.”
What To Know
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced on Wednesday that an unvaccinated school-aged child had died of measles amid the state’s worst outbreak of the illness in 30 years.
While the death was the country’s first from measles since 2015, Kennedy dismissed the Texas outbreak as “not unusual” during meeting of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet at the White House on Wednesday.
Cassidy, who is also a medical doctor, urged the public to vaccinate their children while reacting to news of the death in a post to X, formerly Twitter.
“Absolutely devastating news,” the senator wrote. “Encouraging parents to make sure their child is up-to-date on their vaccines. The measles vaccine is safe and effective.”
Cassidy’s post quickly inspired criticism, with a number of outraged responses pointing out that he helped Kennedy to gain control of the nation’s health infrastructure by voting to confirm him as HHS secretary earlier this month.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine at Georgetown University, responding to Cassidy on X: “I’m sorry but by supporting the nomination of RFK Jr you placed your career before the health of this nation’s children. A dereliction of your duty as a Senator and as a doctor.”
Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who is the founder and CEO of the child-focused Their Future political action committee, responding on X: “Won’t ever forget your role in precipitating this public health crisis.”
Progressive podcaster and commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, on X: “Perhaps voting for an anti vaxxer to lead the nation’s health agency wasn’t a great idea in retrospect,@SenBillCassidy?”
The Republicans Against Trump account on X, responding to Cassidy while sharing a video clip of Kennedy saying that he would not vaccinate young children against measles and mumps: “You literally voted to make this anti-measles vaccine activist the HHS Secretary. Have you no shame?”
Kennedy, responding to a question about the measles death during the White House meeting on Wednesday: “There’ve been four measles outbreaks this year. In this country last year, there were 16. So, it’s not unusual. We have measles outbreaks every year.”
Cassidy, in a February 13 X post after voting to confirm Kennedy: “We need to make America healthy again, and it is my expectation that Secretary Kennedy will get this done. As chair of the HELP [Health, Education, Labor and Pensions] Committee, I look forward to working closely with Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration to improve the health of all Americans.”
What Happens Next
The measles outbreak in Texas is ongoing. Medical experts predict that there will be an “inevitable” further spread of the illness if vaccination rates continue to fall.
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