In Tampa, RFK Jr. questions accuracy of report of measles deaths in Pennsylvania

Filed 2h ago · Via Florida Phoenix · The Buffoon Desk

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Kevin MacLeod · incompetech.com · CC BY 4.0

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HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appearing in Tampa with Sen. Ashley Moody to promote a school nutrition initiative, was asked instead about two reported measles deaths in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and responded by questioning whether the deaths were actually connected to measles. He claimed Pennsylvania is the only state refusing to cooperate with CDC officials sent to investigate, an assertion the Phoenix could not verify with Lancaster County officials.

Gov. Josh Shapiro pushed back, saying Kennedy's history of undermining vaccine confidence is harming communities and citing declining vaccination rates on Kennedy's watch; the CDC itself had already posted condolences for the two 'measles-associated deaths.' Kennedy did not respond to the CDC's own statement contradicting his skepticism.

National kindergarten vaccination data show non-medical exemptions rose 17% last year, though MMR vaccination rates remain at 94.2% overall. Kennedy claimed the U.S. is handling the measles outbreak better than any other country, despite the CDC's own data placing the U.S. outside the top ten countries for measles outbreaks.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.

✒ FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK

There is a particular kind of confidence required to dispute your own agency's condolence notice and then pivot to boasting that nobody on earth handles this better than we do. The office exists to publish the numbers; the man running it treats them as a rival outlet with an agenda. When the fact-check and the official both work in the same building, the public is entitled to ask which one is on the payroll.

Source: Read the original at Florida Phoenix → Scored: Hyperfun · Kevin MacLeod · CC BY 4.0

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