Pennsylvania measles deaths ignite clash over RFK Jr.'s vaccination claims
Two people have died from measles in Pennsylvania during the state's ongoing outbreak, marking the first measles-related fatalities in the commonwealth in 35 years and the first such deaths reported in the United States in 2026. One of the victims was an infant.
The deaths occurred as Pennsylvania grapples with 460 confirmed measles cases across 31 counties this year, with approximately half concentrated in Lancaster County. The state now has the third-highest measles tally in the nation.
The fatalities have intensified scrutiny of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose public messaging on vaccines has drawn sharp criticism from medical professionals and lawmakers. Following the deaths, Kennedy issued a statement encouraging vaccination while simultaneously casting doubt on vaccine safety and efficacy.
The contradictory messaging comes amid a historic measles resurgence nationwide. As of August 27, 2026, the United States has confirmed 2,903 measles cases, the highest annual total since measles was declared eliminated in 2000 and the most cases since 1991. The surge places the country at risk of losing its measles elimination status when the Pan American Health Organization reviews it in November 2026.
Among measles cases confirmed by Pennsylvania health officials, none occurred in people who received both recommended doses of the MMR vaccine. Approximately 20 percent of cases in the state required hospitalization. Medical data shows death from measles occurs in one to three of every 1,000 cases in the United States, with about one in five unvaccinated people who contract the disease requiring hospitalization.
Declining vaccination rates fuel outbreak
The outbreak unfolds against a backdrop of declining childhood vaccination coverage. MMR vaccination rates among U.S. kindergartners have dropped from 95.2 percent during the 2019-2020 school year to 92.4 percent in the 2025-2026 school year, falling below the 95 percent threshold epidemiologists say is necessary for herd immunity. The decline leaves approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk.
Kennedy's ties to Lancaster County, the epicenter of Pennsylvania's outbreak, date back years. In 2021, he was a keynote speaker at an event in the county where he claimed vaccines are harmful, according to local reporting.
On August 10, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for fewer childhood vaccinations and for splitting the childhood MMR vaccine into three separate shots, a policy backed by Kennedy.
Controversy over advisory committee
Kennedy has also faced criticism for his handling of the federal vaccine advisory committee. During his confirmation process, he pledged to maintain the committee without changes. Once in office, however, he ousted all 17 members and named his own advisers. Senator Bill Cassidy acknowledged his trust in Kennedy was broken following the move.
Public health officials continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination as Pennsylvania's outbreak grows. The state's measles crisis reflects broader national trends that threaten decades of progress in controlling the highly contagious disease.
