New documents claim US health secretary misrepresented vaccine purpose of 2019 Samoa trip

Newly obtained correspondence indicates that before his May-June 2019 trip, Robert F Kennedy Jr wrote to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi stating his aim was to study Samoa’s MMR vaccine and conduct a detailed health-informatics assessment, using the word “vaccine” eight times. During his Senate confirmation hearings last year, Kennedy repeatedly insisted the journey had nothing to do with vaccines, a claim now at odds with the letters.

Critics say the visit, made while he chaired the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, may have bolstered vaccine skepticism ahead of a measles outbreak that killed 83 people. Senators Ron Wyden and Edward Markey have labeled his testimony misleading and suggested it could trigger further inquiries or impeachment steps. The Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement calling the accusation false and defamatory. While providing false testimony to Congress is a felony, prosecution is uncommon and would depend on future congressional dynamics.