Health

Kennedy, in His Own Words: Flu, Diabetes, Autism and More

Published

11 months ago

January 31, 2025

Kennedy, in His Own Words: Flu, Diabetes, Autism and More

At Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearings, beginning on Wednesday, senators are expected to question him closely about his controversial views on vaccines.

For years Mr. Kennedy has questioned the safety of vaccines, including those for polio and measles, two diseases that continue to harm children. More recently, he has said that he’s not planning to take vaccines away from Americans but wants to release safety data to the public — even though nearly all of the data is already publicly available.

Mr. Kennedy’s contrarian views extend well beyond vaccines. And as secretary of health and human services, he would have enormous influence on health policy, even on issues typically under state control, by cutting funding for certain programs or elevating others.

Here’s a fact check of some of his claims.

This is false. Mr. Kennedy’s number is off by orders of magnitude.

The National Diabetes Statistics Report estimated that in 2021, about 35 per 10,000 children and adolescents younger than 20 — that is, 0.35 percent — had a diagnosis of diabetes. Another study found that 0.1 percent of young people 10 to 19 had diabetes in 2017.

Mr. Kennedy also seems to be conflating juvenile or Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, with Type 2 diabetes, which can result from an unhealthy lifestyle. He is correct that new cases of diabetes — both types — are on the rise. But the prevalence in teenagers is still much lower than in adults and increases with age; the highest prevalence, 29.2 percent, is among adults 65 and older.

In a later comment that included prediabetes, Mr. Kennedy said, “These kids are now dependent on, you know, insulin and diabetes treatments, on chronic disease treatments for the rest of their lives, and that’s bankrupting our health care system.”

While prediabetes is a warning sign for diabetes, most cases don’t require treatment with insulin and can be reversed with lifestyle changes, including modest weight loss. Prediabetes, too, is rising; about 28 percent of teenagers are prediabetic.

This is false. Every year, scientists track the effectiveness of the annual flu vaccine. And every year, dozens of studies document the vaccine’s effectiveness against hospitalizations and deaths. The exact numbers vary, but the results always show that vaccination is beneficial.

Injected flu vaccines do not contain live virus, and nasal spray vaccines contain weakened virus; neither type can transmit the flu.

The flu vaccine’s composition is typically determined in the spring, based on the dominant variants in the Southern Hemisphere at that time. In some years the vaccine that is produced is an excellent match for the viruses that emerge in the fall, and in other years the scientists’ best guess is a little off.

As a result, effectiveness may range from 30 to 90 percent, depending on the age group and the subtype of influenza. But even when effectiveness is low, the vaccine can shorten the duration and severity of illness.

Because flu tends to be most severe in children under 5 and in older adults, the vaccine is particularly recommended — not mandated — for those age groups. And since the flu vaccine was introduced in 1945, life expectancy, including among older adults, has risen steadily.

This needs context. Mr. Kennedy is partly right. One in 36 American children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the one-in-34 estimate is specific to boys). And in California, one in 22 children has autism.

But autism is a spectrum, and a majority of those diagnosed can participate in sports, write poetry (if they are so inclined), pay taxes, date and marry; many are parents. The list of people with autism includes successful athletes, writers, actors, activists, artists, politicians — and even Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and head of the Trump administration’s government cost-cutting effort.

Studies suggest that most of the increase in autism diagnoses is on the milder end of the spectrum, in part because the diagnostic criteria have widened.

What Mr. Kennedy describes is a subset of autistic people, about one in four with the diagnosis, who are profoundly affected. But even they are more likely to harm themselves than others. (The prevalence of profound autism is rising, but slowly.)

Mr. Kennedy may not have seen such people when he was a child because back then, most of them were isolated at home or institutionalized, misdiagnosed with mental illnesses and heavily medicated.

This needs context. First, most states mandate that children receive about 20 shots to enter school, but those shots include doses of eight or so vaccines (depending on which combination vaccines are used) that together protect against a dozen diseases.

Even including vaccines that are recommended and not required, such as a yearly flu shot, children may receive 35 shots by age 5. Mr. Kennedy’s math would be correct only if the number included vaccines given in pregnancy, and if each component and each dose of a combination product were considered a separate vaccine.

All vaccines must meet strict requirements for safety before approval. Even after their approval, federal officials monitor reports of side effects in multiple systems that analyze medical records and reports from patients and doctors.

Mr. Kennedy’s claim that none of the shots have been tested in placebo-controlled trials also needs context. Some of the vaccines currently in use have indeed been tested against a placebo; others are newer alternatives to vaccines that underwent placebo-controlled trials before approval.

A newer vaccine is often tested against an approved one — rather than against a placebo — to show that it is just as good at preventing disease. Newer treatments for certain diseases like cancer are similarly tested in such trials, which are called non-inferiority trials.

That’s because it would be unethical to deny some children in a trial protection against a dangerous pathogen, as it would be to deny treatment to patients with a disease, by giving them a placebo.

This is false. Numerous studies have examined this claim and found it to be unsubstantiated. On the contrary, pertussis itself, rather than the vaccine, can be dangerous or even fatal to young children.

In both statements, Mr. Kennedy is referring to a vaccine for pertussis, or whooping cough, that was discontinued in the 1990s. The vaccine was made from inactivated bacteria and, compared with the newer vaccines, was associated with more side effects, including fever, drowsiness and irritability.

But research has not found severe short- or long-term consequences. According to one large study, for every 100,000 doses of the vaccine, fewer than nine produced a febrile seizure on the day of vaccination.

Febrile seizures are seizures caused by high fevers and can occur during any childhood illness, including an ear infection; they do not cause lasting harm. Longer-term follow-ups by several teams have shown no evidence of brain damage in children who received the vaccine.

Mr. Kennedy is correct that one team reported increased mortality after pertussis vaccination in West Africa. But a series of independent panels that was convened to examine the studies unanimously concluded that the team’s data did not support this conclusion.

“Indeed, the papers provide substantial evidence against such a conclusion,” the experts wrote.

Click to comment

Health

5 Surprising Ozempic Side Effects Doctors Are Finally Revealing (Like Back Pain and Hair Loss)

Published

8 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

5 Surprising Ozempic Side Effects Doctors Are Finally Revealing (Like Back Pain and Hair Loss)

Surprising Ozempic Side Effects Doctors Want Women To Know | Woman’s World

Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.

Use escape to exit the menu.

Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login

Health

Relationship coach blames Oprah for pushing family estrangement ‘for decades’

Published

9 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Relationship coach blames Oprah for pushing family estrangement ‘for decades’

Join Fox News for access to this content

You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.

Please enter a valid email address.

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Oprah Winfrey is shining a light on family estrangement, which she calls “one of the fastest-growing cultural shifts of our time” — but one expert says the media mogul helped fuel that very culture.

“A Cornell University study now shows that almost one-third of Americans are actively estranged from a family member,” Winfrey said on a recent episode of “The Oprah Podcast,” referring to adult children going “no-contact” with parents, siblings or entire family systems.

Winfrey said the trend is a “silent epidemic” that can be especially relevant during the holidays.

ONE TOXIC BEHAVIOR KILLS RELATIONSHIPS, LEADING HAPPINESS EXPERT WARNS

But family and relationship coach Tania Khazaal, who focuses on fighting “cutoff culture,” took to social media to criticize Winfrey for acting as if the estrangement crisis appeared “out of thin air.”

“Now Oprah is shocked by the aftermath of estrangement, after being one of the biggest voices pushing it for decades,” Canada-based Khazaal said in an Instagram video, which drew more than 27,000 likes and 3,000 comments.

Oprah Winfrey recently discussed what she called a “silent epidemic” of family estrangement on her podcast. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Khazaal claimed that Winfrey’s messaging started in the 1990s and has contributed to a cultural shift where walking away became the first resort, not the last.

According to the relationship coach, millennials, some of whom grew up watching Oprah, are the leading demographic cutting off family members — and even if it wasn’t intentional, “the effect has absolutely been harmful,” Khazaal told Fox News Digital.

FAMILY BREAKUPS OVER POLITICS MAY HURT MORE THAN YOU THINK, EXPERT SAYS

The coach, who has her own history with estrangement, questioned why Winfrey is now treating the issue as a surprising crisis.

“Now she hosts a discussion with estranged parents and estranged kids, speaking on estrangement like it’s some hidden, sudden, heartbreaking epidemic that she had no hand in,” she said in her video.

Nearly one-third of Americans are estranged from a family member, research shows. (iStock)

Khazaal said she believes discussions about estrangement are necessary, but insists that people shouldn’t “rewrite history.”

“Estrangement isn’t entertainment or a trending conversation piece,” she added. “It’s real families, real grief, parents dying without hearing their child’s voice.”

JENNIFER ANISTON, KATE HUDSON, HEATHER GRAHAM’S SHOCKING REASONS THEY BECAME ESTRANGED FROM THEIR PARENTS

Winfrey reportedly responded in the comments, writing, “Happy to have a conversation about it — but not on a reel. Will have my producer contact you if you’re interested.” But the comment was later deleted due to the backlash it received, Khazaal told Fox News Digital.

“I would still be open to that discussion,” Khazaal said. “The first thing I’d want her to understand is simple: Setting aside cases of abuse or danger, the family unit is the most sacred structure we have.”

Experts emphasize that estrangement should be a last resort. (iStock)

“When children lose their sense of belonging at home, they search for it in the outside world,” she added. “That’s contributing to the emotional fragility we’re seeing today.”

Her critique ignited a debate online, with some social media users saying Khazaal is voicing a long-overdue concern.

PSYCHIATRIST REVEALS HOW SIMPLE MINDSET SHIFTS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE CHRONIC PAIN

“The first time I heard, ‘You can love them from a distance’ was from Oprah … in the ’90s,” one woman said.

“My son estranged himself from us for five years,” one mother commented. “The pain, hurt and damage never goes away.”

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Others, however, argued that Winfrey’s podcast episode was empathetic and that estrangement shouldn’t be oversimplified.

Mental health experts say the conversation around estrangement is more complex than any single celebrity influence, and reflects broader cultural shifts.

Experts say today’s focus on boundaries and emotional well-being has reshaped family expectations. (iStock)

In the episode with Winfrey, Joshua Coleman, a California-based psychologist, said, “The old days of ‘honor thy mother and thy father,’ ‘respect thy elders’ and ‘family is forever’ has given way to much more of an emphasis on personal happiness, personal growth, my identity, my political beliefs, my mental health.”

Coleman noted that therapists sometimes become “detachment brokers” by unintentionally green-lighting estrangement.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Jillian Amodio, a licensed master’s social worker at the Maryland-based Waypoint Wellness Center, told Fox News Digital that while public figures like Winfrey help normalize these conversations, estrangement might just be a more openly discussed topic now.

“Estrangement used to be handled privately and quietly,” she said.

Winfrey’s take on family estrangement is prompting a broader discussion amid the holiday season. (iStock)

But even strained relationships can be fixed with the right support, experts say.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Susan Foosness, a North Carolina-based clinical director of patient programs at Rula Health, said families can strengthen their relationships by working with a mental health professional to improve communication, learn healthier conflict-resolution skills, and build trust and empathy through quality time together.

“No family is perfect,” Foosness told Fox News Digital.

Khazaal agreed, saying, “Parents need to learn how to listen without slipping into justification, and children need help speaking about their pain without defaulting to blame or avoidance.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Winfrey for comment.

Health

Major measles outbreak leads to hundreds quarantined in US county, officials say

Published

21 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Major measles outbreak leads to hundreds quarantined in US county, officials say

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

South Carolina is facing a major measles outbreak, resulting in the quarantine of hundreds of residents.

The South Carolina Department of Health (DPH) reported in a media briefing on Wednesday that the current number of measles cases has reached 111 as part of the current Spartanburg County outbreak.

DPH first reported a measles outbreak in the Upstate region on Oct. 2.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

The health department confirmed that 254 people are currently in quarantine and 16 are in isolation to prevent further spread.

The health department confirmed that 254 people are currently in quarantine in the upstate region. (Getty Images)

“This significant jump in cases is unfortunate,” a DPH spokesperson commented on the outbreak.

Public exposure was identified at Inman Intermediate School, with 43 of their students in quarantine.

“This significant jump in cases is unfortunate.”

Advertisement

Eight other intermediate and middle schools in the area are also reportedly undergoing quarantine. The DPH said multiple students have had to quarantine twice due to repeat exposure.

“Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent the disruption that measles is causing to people’s education, to employment and other factors in people’s lives and our communities,” the spokesperson said.

“This significant jump in cases is unfortunate,” a DPH spokesperson commented on the current outbreak. (iStock)

Out of the 111 confirmed cases, 105 were unvaccinated. Receiving a vaccination within 72 hours has been shown to prevent measles infection, the DPH spokesperson noted.

Some cases are related to travel exposure, while others are from an unknown source, suggesting that measles is circulating in the community, the DPH noted.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Connecticut has also reported its first measles case in four years, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

The department confirmed on Thursday that an unvaccinated child in Fairfield County, under the age of 10, was diagnosed with measles after recently traveling internationally.

“Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent the disruption that measles is causing,” a DPH spokesperson said. (iStock)

The child began to show symptoms several days later, including a runny nose, cough, congestion, fever and a rash starting at the head and spreading to the rest of the body.

The Connecticut DPH noted that measles is “highly contagious” and can spread quickly through the air via coughing or sneezing. The CDC has estimated that nine out of 10 unvaccinated individuals who encounter an infected person will develop the measles virus.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

According to the International Vaccine Access Center, more than 1,800 cases of measles have been reported in 2025, which is the most since the U.S. declared the virus eliminated in 2000. It is also the most cases recorded in three decades.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“The single best way to protect your children and yourself from measles is to be vaccinated,” DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, M.D., wrote in a statement. “One dose of measles vaccine is about 93% effective, while two doses are about 97% effective.”

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.