The deaths of two children in Samoa after incorrectly mixed vaccines led to a halt in immunization efforts, fueling vaccine skepticism, which persisted even during a subsequent outbreak.
Despite the reinstatement of the vaccine program, Samoa's immunization rates remained critically low, contributing to a measles outbreak that infected nearly six thousand and caused the deaths of more than seventy children.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. controversially referenced the measles outbreak as being 'mild' while visiting Samoa, framing vaccine opponents as 'medical freedom heroes' and perpetuating vaccine skepticism.
With Donald Trump's nomination of Kennedy to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, concerns arise over the impact this could have on public health messaging and vaccine policy.
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