HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the Children's Health Defense conference in Washington, D.C. — the vaccine-skeptic group he once led — and delivered a strong defense of questioning vaccine safety. Kennedy claimed that only the COVID-19 vaccine underwent a randomized controlled trial and that the U.S. has "no idea" of the risks of other vaccines, assertions that the American Academy of Pediatrics has directly refuted, noting that childhood vaccines go through rigorous multi-phase clinical trials, including placebo-controlled studies.

Kennedy also criticized the FDA's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), calling it "a system designed to fail," and cited a 2010 AHRQ report suggesting fewer than 1% of adverse events are reported — though experts note the report does not explain how that figure was calculated. He framed HHS's current efforts as finally asking questions that "millions of American parents" have wanted answered for years.

Key Takeaways:

• Kennedy's remarks come amid an active measles outbreak spreading in Pennsylvania
• The CDC's recommended schedule involves ~33 doses of 18–19 vaccines before age 18 — not the "94 doses of 28 vaccines" Kennedy cited
• The AAP confirms vaccines undergo multiple rounds of research, animal testing, and clinical trials before approval

Why it matters: When the nation's top health official amplifies vaccine misinformation during an active outbreak, it can erode public trust in immunization programs and put vulnerable populations at greater risk — making accurate, evidence-based communication from health leaders more critical than ever.