Kerry Kennedy says her brother's vaccine-skeptic messaging contributed to people not taking vaccines
Kerry KennedySister of Secretary Kennedy and president of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, in an interview on CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront
Asked about her brother's clash with Shapiro over Pennsylvania's measles deaths, Kerry Kennedy says his messaging on vaccine skepticism has contributed to people not taking their vaccines.
“Yeah, I think absolutely, his messaging on vaccine skepticism has 100% contributed to people not taking their vaccines.”
Interview
Analysis
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
Interview
About this source
CNN's rush transcript (may not be in final form) of the full hour. The punctuation of the quotation follows this transcript (hyphenated 'hostage-taking'; a comma after 'bankrupt'), and the words were confirmed against the audio.
Analysis
About this source
NewsBusters, the Media Research Center's media-criticism blog, transcribes Kerry Kennedy's September 15, 2026, CNN interview about her brother and Pennsylvania's measles deaths and criticizes the segment.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Erin Burnett asks about the clash between Secretary Kennedy and Gov. Shapiro, notes that Pennsylvania is reporting a fourth measles-related death, and reads Shapiro's post accusing Kennedy of playing games with public health and his reply that MMR vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. She asks whether his messaging has contributed.
After the quotation
Kerry Kennedy then urges viewers to take their vaccines and says vaccine skepticism has to stop because it is not science-based and people, including children, are dying as a result.
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 measles deaths and outbreak. Asked about Shapiro's criticism of that response, Kerry Kennedy says his messaging on vaccine skepticism contributed to people not being vaccinated, which condemns his conduct.
- Recorded on
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- People and groups discussed
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
More from this case
Read the full caseShapiro says Kennedy sowed doubt and directed the CDC not to acknowledge Pennsylvania's measles deaths
“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.”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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- Kerry Kennedy says her brother's vaccine-skeptic messaging contributed to people not taking vaccines
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The Dispute Index. "Kerry Kennedy says her brother's vaccine-skeptic messaging contributed to people not taking vaccines". First published: 2026-10-31. Last updated: 2026-10-31. https://disputeindex.com/events/7440-asked-about-her-brother-s-clash-with-shapiro