Shapiro says Kennedy sowed doubt and directed the CDC not to acknowledge Pennsylvania's measles deaths
Josh ShapiroGovernor of Pennsylvania, in a post on X
Shapiro says that instead of listening to doctors and public health experts, Kennedy chose to sow doubt, play politics, direct the CDC not to acknowledge Pennsylvania's measles deaths and accuse him of fabricating them.
“Then, instead of listening to the real doctors and public health experts, RFK chose to sow doubt, play politics, direct the CDC not to acknowledge these deaths, and even accuse me of fabricating these tragedies.”
Original post
Reporting
Where this statement fits
RFK Jr. suggests Pennsylvania's measles deaths may have been fabricated; Shapiro says he sowed doubt and kept them off the CDC count
On August 25, 2026, Pennsylvania's Department of Health announced the state's first two measles-associated deaths in 35 years, both in Lancaster County, and Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Trump administration's rhetoric was hurting communities. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the next day that the announcement appeared premature and that the deaths may have been fabricated by one of the governor's staffers. The state health secretary said she had confirmed both deaths, and the CDC left them out of its weekly measles update while it reviewed them. After the county coroner said measles caused one infant's death, Kennedy said the finding showed why the CDC had waited for evidence. Shapiro said Kennedy had sowed doubt and directed the CDC not to acknowledge the deaths.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's post on X, quoting a WGAL report that the Lancaster County coroner said a second infant died of measles. Shapiro criticizes Secretary Kennedy's response to the state's first two measles-associated deaths.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
WGAL report that Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni confirmed one of the two infants reported in August died from measles, while he attributes the other infant's death to a ruptured spleen.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The week before, the state health department reported Pennsylvania's first two measles-associated deaths in 35 years. On the morning of the post, WGAL reported that the Lancaster County coroner said one of the infants died from measles.
After the quotation
He says this led to a firestorm of conspiracy theories that invaded the families' privacy and undermined public health, and calls on Kennedy to report the deaths accurately on the CDC dashboard and follow the guidance of medical experts.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case concerns Secretary Kennedy's response to Pennsylvania's reported measles deaths, including his suggestion that they may have been fabricated and the CDC's decision to leave them out of its count. Shapiro criticizes that response directly and asks Kennedy to report the deaths on the CDC dashboard, which condemns it.
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- People and groups discussed
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
More from this case
Read the full caseKerry Kennedy says her brother's vaccine-skeptic messaging contributed to people not taking vaccines
“Yeah, I think absolutely, his messaging on vaccine skepticism has 100% contributed to people not taking their vaccines.”Read statement
HHS says the CDC's reporting must separate what is known from what is unconfirmed
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
“CDC has a responsibility to ensure its reporting accurately distinguishes between what is known and what remains unconfirmed”Read statement
CDC credits Kennedy's efforts to clarify whether Pennsylvania's reported deaths were caused by measles
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“We appreciate Secretary Kennedy's efforts to clarify conflicting information from Pennsylvania officials about whether the two reported deaths were caused by measles. CDC is working to determine what actually occurred.”Read statement
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- Shapiro says Kennedy sowed doubt and directed the CDC not to acknowledge Pennsylvania's measles deaths
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The Dispute Index. "Shapiro says Kennedy sowed doubt and directed the CDC not to acknowledge Pennsylvania's measles deaths". First published: 2026-10-31. Last updated: 2026-10-31. https://disputeindex.com/events/7436-shapiro-says-that-instead-of-listening-to-doctors