Uzbuđen zbog slučajeva ospica u SAD-u, nevakcinirani Robert Kennedy Jr. morao je reći na televiziji: "Otac bi trebao vakcinisati svoju djecu".

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health, made an unexpected public statement on Sunday during an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, acknowledging that parents should vaccinate their children against measles. The remark came amid a sharp rise in measles cases across the United States, with 2,371 confirmed infections recorded by late July, surpassing the total number of cases reported in the entire year of 2025. This marks one of the highest numbers since 1991, signaling a growing public health crisis. The surge in measles has been attributed largely to declining vaccination rates, particularly in states such as Texas, South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona, where anti-vaccine sentiment has gained traction. These regions have seen weak and delayed responses from local health authorities, allowing the disease to spread rapidly. Measles, which was officially declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, has returned with alarming speed, raising concerns among medical experts and public health officials. Kennedy’s comments were notable given his long-standing opposition to vaccines. For years, he has promoted anti-vaccine rhetoric, often spreading misinformation about the safety and efficacy of immunizations. During the interview, however, he conceded that the measles vaccine is both safe and effective, stating that it could help families save their children's lives. His remarks represented a rare shift in stance, though he stopped short of accepting responsibility for the current outbreak. When asked whether his actions or those of the administration had contributed to the crisis, Kennedy categorically denied any role, asserting that the situation was beyond political influence. Throughout the interview, Kennedy appeared defensive and confrontational, accusing Bash of being overly anxious and repeating unfounded claims. He dismissed her questions as baseless, suggesting she was merely echoing statements she could not substantiate. Despite this, his acknowledgment of the importance of vaccination marked a significant departure from his previous positions, even if it did not fully align with the broader public health consensus. Medical authorities have consistently refuted Kennedy’s earlier assertions about vaccines. Dr. Paul Offitt, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, pointed out that if Kennedy’s claims were accurate, measles would still be prevalent in the country rather than having been officially eradicated in 2000. Public health officials emphasize that achieving herd immunity requires approximately 95 percent of the population to be vaccinated, a threshold that has not been met in many parts of the U.S. This gap has allowed the virus to resurge, especially in communities where anti-vaccine beliefs have taken hold. The resurgence of measles has been linked to the spread of misinformation, including the debunked theory connecting vaccines to autism. This idea, amplified after the COVID-19 pandemic, has found support among some prominent figures, including Donald Trump. As a result, many families have opted against vaccinations, leaving vulnerable populations, including infants and individuals with compromised immune systems, at risk. Health officials are hoping that the increasing number of cases will prompt more families to reconsider their stance on vaccination. With the disease spreading quickly and showing no signs of slowing down, the urgency for action has never been greater. The challenge lies in countering deeply entrenched misinformation while promoting the critical role of immunization in preventing outbreaks. Public health campaigns are currently underway to educate the public about the benefits of vaccination and the dangers of measles. However, the success of these efforts depends heavily on addressing the root causes of vaccine hesitancy, including trust in government institutions and the credibility of scientific information. As the situation continues to evolve, the response from both policymakers and health professionals will be crucial in determining the trajectory of the outbreak.