RFK Jr. Praises Quack Doctor After Funeral of Unvaxxed Child
RFK Jr. during his hearing to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Photo courtesy of U.S. Senate Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Public domain.
Hours after attending the funeral of an 8-year-old girl who died from measles, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines again — not for grief, but for his glowing praise of controversial doctors promoting unverified measles treatments. The move stunned health officials, enraged critics, and raised urgent questions about the message coming from America's top health officer.
A Funeral, a Virus, and a Health Chief's Unexpected Praise
The funeral in Seminole, Texas, was for Daisy Hildebrand, an unvaccinated child who died from measles-related complications. Her death marked the second measles-related child fatality in the state during a deadly outbreak that has infected nearly 500 people, mostly unvaccinated, since January, according to USA TODAY.
Kennedy has a long and controversial history of questioning vaccines.
He arrived in Texas to console grieving families and to coordinate with Texas officials. In a post on X, he publicly stated that the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles spread — a shift from his earlier vaccine skepticism.
Controversial Treatments Enter the Conversation
But just hours later, Kennedy posted online in support of Dr. Ben Edwards and Dr. Richard Bartlett. Kennedy claimed the anti-vax physicians had treated and healed "some 300 measles-stricken Mennonite children," as reported by The Guardian. He credited them with treating measles-stricken Mennonite children with aerosolized budesonide and clarithromycin — treatments not approved for curing measles and widely dismissed by the medical community.
Edwards, who operates a wellness clinic in a converted barn, promotes cod liver oil, vitamin C, and what he describes according to The Washington Post as "God's version of measles immunization," as reported by The Independent. Bartlett, meanwhile, previously made headlines during the pandemic for claiming budesonide was a "silver bullet" cure for COVID-19 and has been disciplined by the Texas Medical Board for risky treatment practices.
Expert Opinion
Public health officials reacted swiftly. Pediatricians reiterated that there is no treatment for measles, only supportive care. The combination of antibiotics and steroids may treat secondary complications, but not the virus itself. Budesonide, commonly used for asthma and Crohn's disease, carries a warning against exposure to measles due to increased risk of infection.
Kennedy's mixed messaging caused a stir among experts. Some expressed confusion at how he could promote the MMR vaccine while simultaneously endorsing controversial alternatives. Others speculated that Kennedy's praise of the doctors may have been influenced by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has previously banned vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, he posted on X that his office is working with DSHS to control the outbreak.
Trust on the Line as the Outbreak Escalates
Despite earlier statements minimizing the outbreak and calling vaccination a personal choice, Kennedy has more recently shifted tone. He deployed CDC response teams, expanded MMR vaccine access, and stated publicly that vaccines are the key to stopping measles.
Still, trust is wearing thin. His praise of the doctors echoed past rhetoric from his leadership at Children's Health Defense, a group known for opposing vaccines. That same group reportedly helped fundraise for the Mennonite families affected by the outbreak.
Medical experts warn that mixed signals in a public health emergency can have deadly consequences. Texas already has one of the nation's highest vaccine exemption rates. Gaines County, where Seminole is located, reports an almost 18% exemption rate — nearly six times the national average.
As the outbreak continues, the spotlight remains fixed on Kennedy's next move. Is he pivoting to a more conventional health agenda, or are fringe views still shaping federal response? What is clear: in a moment of national mourning, his words carried more weight than ever. And how he uses them next may determine how many more funerals this crisis has left.
References: RFK Jr. praises anti-vaxxer hours after attending funeral of 8-year-old who died from measles | RFK Jr. touts bogus measles treatment hours after burying 8-year-old child | Robert F Kennedy Jr claims anti-vax physicians healed 'some 300 measles-stricken children' | RFK Jr. after Texas visit: MMR vaccine 'most effective' way to prevent measles spread | Ex-official says he was forced out of FDA after trying to protect vaccine safety data from RFK Jr. | Amid Texas Measles Outbreak, Conservatives Double Down on Anti-Vax Crusade
