As a measles outbreak in West Texas continues to grow, the response from US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has leaned heavily on treatment with vitamin A, as well as “good results” from the use of the steroid budesonide,

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s focus on vitamin A use to combat a growing measles outbreak in Texas is raising concerns among public health experts, who fear he is sending the wrong message about preventing the highly contagious disease.

In the 18 days since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, his department has postponed or canceled two major vaccine advisory committee meetings,

The CDC estimated that Utah children who have received all of the mandated vaccines, including MMR, required for kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year was 88.8%. That’s compared to 88.3% for Colorado, 91% for North Dakota, 90.8% for South Dakota and 93.5% for Wyoming. Montana data is not available.

More than 100 people in West Texas are currently sick with the illness, which is avoidable when enough people get vaccinated.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, seemingly reversed course and touted benefits of MMR vaccine amid deadly Texas measles outbreak.

A dose of the measles vaccine is seen on a table at a health center in Lubbock, Texas, on Feb. 27, 2025. A dose of the measles vaccine is seen on a table at a health center in Lubbock, Texas, on Feb.