Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro publicly criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week, accusing him of spreading vaccine misinformation during discussions about a measles outbreak that has claimed two lives in the state. The dispute began when Kennedy challenged Shapiro’s statement that the MMR vaccine contains no fetal tissue, a claim that medical experts have repeatedly confirmed as accurate. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, while some vaccines use cell cultures originally derived from aborted fetuses decades ago, the purification process removes all fetal material from the final product.
During a phone call with Shapiro to discuss state support for the outbreak response, Kennedy allegedly launched into what the governor characterized as a “tirade” about fetal tissue and suggested that natural measles infection might be preferable to vaccination. Shapiro responded by urging Kennedy to help encourage vaccination rather than perpetuate misleading claims. The governor attributed the growing outbreak partly to Kennedy’s efforts to dismantle public health agencies and undermine confidence in medical guidance.
The measles situation has reached crisis levels under Kennedy’s tenure. The country has confirmed over 2,700 cases across 36 new outbreaks this year, representing a dramatic resurgence of a disease declared eradicated in the United States in 2000. Kennedy has previously proposed separating the MMR vaccine into three individual shots, a move public health experts warn would reduce vaccination rates while providing no medical benefit. Measles poses serious risks to young children, potentially causing lifelong complications including hearing loss and neurological damage.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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