Story perspectives

Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. Warns Against Vaccines, Ignoring Past Epidemics

5/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. opposes vaccines, raising concerns about future disease outbreaks.
A 90-year-old recounts that measles, polio and whooping cough devastated her generation before vaccines eliminated them.
Measles once killed about 10,000 American children each decade, while polio left survivors with disabled lungs that required iron lungs until vaccines eradicated the disease.
The author urges the health secretary to consider these personal histories before promoting anti-vaccine policies.

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Story summary

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. opposes vaccines, raising concerns about future disease outbreaks.
A 90-year-old recounts that measles, polio and whooping cough devastated her generation before vaccines eliminated them.
Measles once killed about 10,000 American children each decade, while polio left survivors with disabled lungs that required iron lungs until vaccines eradicated the disease.
The author urges the health secretary to consider these personal histories before promoting anti-vaccine policies.