Samoa

Hawaii Governor Blames RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vax Stance for Samoan Children’s Deaths

Hawaii Governor Josh Green urged senators to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services, citing Kennedy’s role in a Samoan measles outbreak. Green recounted how Kennedy’s anti-vaccine campaign, following a vaccination error, led to a plummeting vaccination rate, a subsequent measles epidemic, and over 80 deaths, mostly children. This, Green argued, demonstrates Kennedy’s unsuitability for a position requiring public health expertise. Green’s efforts aim to transcend partisan politics and focus on the critical need for a qualified public health professional in this role. He is actively lobbying senators from both parties to oppose the nomination.

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RFK Jr.’s Denial of Role in Samoan Measles Outbreak: A Deadly Deception

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims of non-involvement in the 2019 Samoan measles outbreak, which killed 83, are demonstrably false. His organization, Children’s Health Defense, spread misinformation contributing to a plummeting vaccination rate preceding the outbreak, and Kennedy actively supported prominent anti-vaccine activists in Samoa during a trip funded by his organization. Following the tragedy, he praised these same activists and downplayed the severity of the outbreak. This incident exemplifies Kennedy’s pattern of promoting anti-vaccine sentiment globally while disavowing responsibility for the consequences.

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