In a controversial stance, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, has been vocal about promoting the measles vaccine while simultaneously casting doubt on its effectiveness, asserting that its protection diminishes rapidly. But experts are quickly countering these claims.

During a recent CBS News interview, Kennedy was questioned about the alarming rise in measles cases across the Texas, where a second child tragically succumbed to the illness. This year alone, over 607 measles cases have been reported across 22 states, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warning that about 20% of unvaccinated individuals contracting the disease may require hospitalization.

Despite this grim reality, Kennedy called for vaccination but insisted it shouldn't be mandated by the government, arguing that individuals should have the choice. He controversially stated, “We’re always going to have measles, no matter what happens, as the vaccine wanes very quickly.”

However, health professionals have gone on record to refute Kennedy's claims, with Dr. Tyler Evans, an infectious disease specialist in Illinois, labeling his statements as "pseudoscience" that could harm public health. He emphasized that the measles vaccine is among the most effective available, with the CDC confirming it can offer lifelong protection.

The measles vaccine, offered as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) or the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine in Canada, boasts an effectiveness rate of 85 to 95% after the first dose given between 12 to 15 months, skyrocketing to nearly 100% after a second dose, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Dr. Evans highlighted the global successes in reducing measles-related deaths through mass vaccination, indicating that outbreaks often occur in specific communities where misinformation about vaccines persists. He argued that statements like Kennedy's exacerbate vaccine hesitancy, potentially halting efforts to eradicate measles.

"We were so close to measles actually being eradicated," Dr. Evans lamented. "Making these false statements is devastating and could set us back decades in our public health efforts."