Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to deliver a keynote address Thursday at a Children's Health Defense conference at the Grand Hyatt Washington, STAT reported. The organization, which Kennedy chaired until December 2024, questions the safety and effectiveness of childhood vaccines.
STAT characterized the appearance as Kennedy's first public embrace of the group since he took charge of HHS. In an email announcing Kennedy as a speaker, the nonprofit said, "We couldn't be more excited to welcome our founder back to the CHD stage." Republican Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky are also listed as speakers, according to STAT's D.C. Diagnosis newsletter.
For parents, the event comes as confirmed U.S. measles cases this year have already surpassed the total for all of 2025. Mixed signals from federal leaders can make routine decisions, such as when to schedule a child's MMR shot, feel more complicated than the evidence suggests.
A Return to the Group He Once Led
Kennedy joined Children's Health Defense in 2015 and chaired it until December 2024, earning a six-figure salary while helping file dozens of lawsuits targeting state vaccine policies, according to financial disclosures cited by STAT. He took leave from the group during his presidential campaign and cut ties shortly before President Trump took office.
During his January 2025 confirmation hearings, Kennedy promised senators he would not do anything to discourage Americans from getting vaccinated. When Sen. Bernie Sanders pressed him about "Unvaxxed, Unafraid" onesies sold by the group, Kennedy said, "I am supportive of vaccines," and added that he had no power over the nonprofit, STAT reported.
His past remarks at the group's events have drawn scrutiny. At a Children's Health Defense conference in Georgia in November 2023, while running for president, Kennedy said he would tell National Institutes of Health scientists, "We're going to give infectious disease a break for about eight years," NBC News reported. He was describing a plan to shift the agency's research focus toward chronic disease.
STAT also reported that the group's leaders, including attorney Mary Holland, have attended high-profile Make America Healthy Again gatherings in Washington and that people from the group have gained positions within HHS. MedicalDaily did not find a public explanation from Kennedy or HHS about why he chose to appear at this year's conference.
Federal Vaccine Messages Pulling in Different Directions
Kennedy's public statements as secretary have not been uniform. At an April Senate Finance Committee hearing, Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, asked whether Kennedy agreed with his CDC director that the measles vaccine is vital to keeping American children healthy. "We promote the measles vaccine," Kennedy replied, adding that it prevents measles in 97% of people who receive it, NPR reported on the Senate Finance Committee hearing exchange.
Other actions have moved in a different direction. An Axios preview of Kennedy's spring hearings noted that a January overhaul had cut the number of recommended childhood vaccinations from 17 to 11 and that Kennedy had directed the CDC to update its website to suggest a widely debunked link between vaccines and autism. A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked the schedule changes in March, and the administration has appealed and sought to expedite its appeal. Axios also noted that some Republicans praise Kennedy for shaking up a federal bureaucracy they say became captive to the health industries it regulates.
The science on the autism claim has not changed. Large studies have repeatedly found no link between vaccines and autism, and major medical organizations continue to recommend the MMR vaccine on schedule.
Measles Numbers Behind Parents' Decisions
The CDC reports 3,294 confirmed measles cases nationwide in 2026 as of September 10, compared with 2,289 in all of 2025. There have been 38 new outbreaks this year, and 95% of confirmed cases are linked to outbreaks.
Vaccination coverage has slipped. MMR coverage among kindergartners fell from 95.2% in the 2019 to 2020 school year to 92.4% in the 2025 to 2026 school year, leaving about 280,000 kindergartners at risk, according to the CDC. Two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles.
Measles spreads through the air, and the virus can linger for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a space, according to the Knox County Health Department in Tennessee. Symptoms typically begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face. Complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, a swelling of the brain, so a child who seems very ill needs prompt medical care.
Infants too young to be vaccinated, young children, pregnant people without immunity, and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest danger from measles. Parents unsure of a child's vaccine status can check with their pediatrician or state immunization registry, and anyone bringing a child with fever and rash to a clinic should call ahead first.
Speeches do not change vaccine recommendations or insurance coverage. Families should rely on their child's clinician and state or local health department guidance rather than conference remarks or social media clips. Questions about vaccine safety are best raised directly with a pediatrician, who can review a child's health history.
It is not yet known whether Kennedy will address vaccines directly on Thursday, and MedicalDaily did not find an advance text of his remarks. The appearance comes in the same week that senators are questioning Chris Klomp, the nominee to serve as Kennedy's deputy. MedicalDaily will report any policy statements that could affect families.
A speech to an anti-vaccine audience does not alter the evidence or the MMR recommendation. The most reasonable step for parents is confirming that children are up to date on MMR while watching for any formal policy changes.
Key Questions Answered
What is happening Thursday? HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to give a keynote address at a Children's Health Defense conference at the Grand Hyatt Washington, according to STAT.
What is Children's Health Defense? It is a nonprofit that questions the safety and effectiveness of childhood vaccines. Kennedy joined the group in 2015 and chaired it until December 2024.
Why is this appearance notable? STAT describes it as Kennedy's first public embrace of the group since he took over HHS. In January 2025, he told senators he would not do anything to discourage vaccination.
Does the speech change vaccine guidance? No. A speech does not change vaccine recommendations or insurance coverage.
How serious is the measles situation? The CDC reports 3,294 confirmed cases in 2026 as of September 10, more than the 2,289 cases recorded in all of 2025.
What should parents do? Check that children are up to date on MMR vaccination with a pediatrician or state registry, and call ahead before bringing a child with fever and rash to a clinic.
