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Jewish News 24 · Aug 27, 2026

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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told lawmakers that his 2019 visit to Samoa had “nothing to do with vaccines,” but newly obtained documents contradict that claim. Before the trip, Kennedy, then an anti-vaccine activist, asked Samoa’s prime minister to let him study measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, mentioning vaccines or vaccination eight times in his letter. The documents raise questions about his congressional testimony, as well as promises he made during his confirmation hearing to preserve vaccine policies that he later moved to change.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told lawmakers that his 2019 visit to Samoa had “nothing to do with vaccines,” but newly obtained documents contradict that claim. Before the trip, Kennedy, then an anti-vaccine activist, asked Samoa’s prime minister to let him study measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, mentioning vaccines or vaccination eight times in his letter. The documents raise questions about his congressional testimony, as well as promises he made during his confirmation hearing to preserve vaccine policies that he later moved to change.

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