Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces scrutiny over actions during Samoa measles outbreak

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, has been chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. This follows his controversial actions during the 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa. During the outbreak, which infected over 5,700 people and resulted in 83 deaths, Kennedy sent a letter to Samoa's Prime Minister. He suggested that the measles vaccine might have caused the outbreak and raised concerns about its effectiveness. At the time of his letter, many children were already dying from the disease. A vaccination campaign eventually helped control the outbreak, but the situation highlighted ongoing debates about vaccine safety and public health.