Overview: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a Children's Health Defense conference on Sept. 17 that vaccine skeptics "have a friend in the White House" and praised policy steps taken under the Trump administration. An Aug. 10 executive order split the MMR vaccine into three separate visits—a change experts warn could add cost and logistical burdens. Kennedy attempted to overhaul the federal advisory committee on immunizations, a move temporarily blocked by a judge. Public-health agencies continue to say vaccines are safe and find no link to autism.
RFK Jr. Tells Vaccine Critics They “Have a Friend” in the White House as MMR Schedule Changes Draw Scrutiny
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the CHD in DC: In Order to Form a More Perfect Future conference.Credit: FOX 5 Washington DC/YouTube
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told attendees at a Children's Health Defense conference on Sept. 17 that parents who question vaccine safety "have a friend in the White House." In a keynote address, Kennedy highlighted policy changes and administrative priorities his office has pursued during the current administration.
RFK Jr.Credit: David Crotty/Getty
What Kennedy Said
Speaking to an audience of vaccine-skeptic activists, Kennedy said he has "accomplished in 19 months things that would have seemed unthinkable two years ago," and added, "Let me be clear: You have a strong and steadfast friend in the White House," according to the Associated Press. He also said the president asked him to "vigorously investigate the potential contribution of childhood vaccines to the chronic disease epidemic" and directed steps to boost vaccine-safety research, transparency, and parental choice.
President Donald Trump in the Oval OfficeCredit: Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty
Policy Moves And Controversy
On Aug. 10, President Trump signed an executive order that altered the recommended schedule for the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, directing that the three components be administered in separate visits rather than a single combined dose. Many public-health experts criticized the change, warning that additional required visits could increase cost, create logistical hurdles for families and providers, and complicate efforts to maintain high immunization coverage.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty
Legal And Administrative Challenges
Kennedy has sought to reshape the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by replacing its 17 members with individuals critical of current vaccine policy, the Associated Press reported. A federal judge in March temporarily blocked that reorganization, finding the administration likely failed to follow required federal procedures; the court paused the changes pending further legal review.
Public-Health Context
The conference remarks came amid renewed public-health concern over measles: the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed two measles-related deaths earlier in August and reported a third death on Sept. 12; officials said at least two of the victims were unvaccinated. Public-health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maintain that large-scale studies support the safety of vaccines and that there is no credible scientific link between vaccines and autism.
Background On Kennedy
Kennedy helped found Children's Health Defense about a decade ago and previously served as the organization's chair and chief legal counsel. The article notes prior controversies: in 2021 he was removed from Instagram for posting content the platform deemed false about vaccines, and in 2025 he drew criticism for an inaccurate claim about vaccine ingredients that health experts and fact-checkers rejected.
Summary: Kennedy framed recent policy changes and oversight actions as responsive to parental concerns about vaccine safety, while public-health officials and many experts continue to emphasize vaccine safety and the risks of declining immunization.
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