RFK Jr Visits Texas to Mourn 6-Year-Old Measles Victim and Champion MMR Vaccine

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, made an emotional stop in Gaines County, Texas, on Sunday to meet with the grieving family of Kayley Fehr, a 6-year-old girl who tragically passed away from the measles virus in February. His visit was also a public plea for greater adoption of the MMR vaccine amidst a growing measles outbreak.

In a heartfelt post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Kennedy expressed his condolences and reflected on his bond with the community, saying, "I came to Gaines County, Texas, today to comfort the Hildebrand family after the loss of their 8-year-old daughter Daisy. I got to know the family of 6-year-old Kayley Fehr after she passed away in February. I also developed bonds with and deep affection for other members of this community during that difficult time."

While Kennedy's visit aimed to console affected families quietly, it also carried a more significant mission—to bolster public health efforts alongside Texas officials in combating the measles outbreak that has gripped the state. Texas currently accounts for 499 of the 642 confirmed measles cases reported across 22 states.

The HHS Secretary deployed a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) back in March to assist local and state health officials with the outbreak. These efforts included supplying clinics and pharmacies with MMR vaccines and essential medical supplies, as well as conducting contact investigations and answering healthcare-related questions in affected communities.

"The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine," Kennedy emphasized in his post. He also noted that he has coordinated with Texas Governor Greg Abbott to redeploy CDC teams and ensure continued federal support for the state’s response.

The outbreak in Texas began in late January and has since spread to other states. Among the hardest hit are infants and toddlers, including six children at a daycare center in Lubbock who tested positive in the past two weeks. Tragically, two of these children are among the 56 people hospitalized with measles in the region since the outbreak began.

According to the CDC, measles can have devastating consequences: approximately one to three out of every 1,000 infected children die due to respiratory or neurological complications, and pneumonia remains the leading cause of measles-related deaths in young children.

Kennedy’s visit and advocacy for the MMR vaccine highlight the urgency of combating the outbreak. For communities grappling with the loss and fear brought by the measles virus, his presence was not only a gesture of compassion but also a call to action.