RFK Jr.'s surprising role reversal on vaccines: Is it just a PR stunt?

Physicians have spent years combatting vaccine misinformation, often facing resistance from the most unexpected places—including prominent public figures. One of the most recent voices in the anti-vaccine movement, HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has now made a surprising shift: He’s urging unvaccinated individuals to get the measles vaccine.

Understanding the shift

In a recent Instagram Reel, internal medicine and pediatric physician Tommy Martin, MD, highlighted the reversal, expressing gratitude that Kennedy is finally acknowledging the public health necessity of immunization. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m actually really thankful for something RFK Jr. just said,” Dr, Martin remarked.

For many of us in medicine, the question remains: Is this a genuine evolution in his stance, or simply a strategic recalibration?

Now that he’s advising people to get the measles vaccine, it’s hard not to ask: What changed? Did he finally recognize the overwhelming scientific evidence, or is this a calculated move in light of increasing measles cases making headlines? And more importantly, will his followers actually listen, or is the anti-vax movement too deeply entrenched?

As Dr. Martin put it, “For so long, this man has been anti-vaccine. He has spread so much misinformation about vaccines, and now he is saying, ‘If you’re unvaccinated, go out and get the measles vaccine.’”

The influence of public figures in medicine

As physicians, we know that evidence-based medicine should speak for itself.

In this case, it's also important to consider the risk of selective advocacy. A single concession on measles doesn’t erase the broader harm caused by widespread vaccine misinformation, and many are left wondering whether Kennedy will extend this new perspective to other critical immunizations or if this is just a one-off, designed to maintain credibility while still feeding into broader anti-vaxx narratives?

Dr. Martin acknowledged this complexity, saying, “Do I wish he would say this about all vaccines? Yes. But I also think that this is a really big step for him, and I hope it leads to more people getting vaccinated.”

Where do we go from here?

Kennedy’s reversal may be a step in the right direction. As Dr. Martin concluded, “This is a step. And sometimes, we just have to be thankful for the steps that we get.”

The real challenge is ensuring that public health messaging is rooted in the unshakable foundation of scientific integrity.