US’s top health official Robert F Kennedy Jr, known for his vaccine skepticism, has voiced support for the measles vaccine amid a deadly outbreak in Texas. In an opinion piece for Fox News, Kennedy expressed concern over the rising cases, acknowledging that vaccines protect both individuals and communities. However, he maintained that vaccination remains a personal choice.

The outbreak has led to 146 cases in Texas since late January, primarily among Mennonite communities. Authorities reported the first US measles death in a decade last month after an unvaccinated child was hospitalised.

Previously, Kennedy faced criticism for downplaying measles outbreaks, despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) warning that unvaccinated individuals are at high risk. The agency notes that 1 in 5 unvaccinated measles patients requires hospitalisation, and 1 in 20 children with the disease develops pneumonia.