Supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. openly identified as anti-vaccine activists during a weekend gathering in Austin, Texas, where approximately 1,000 attendees celebrated their movement's growing influence. The conference, organized by Children's Health Defense, featured speakers who rejected the term's negative connotations and called for bolder opposition to immunization programs, despite Kennedy's public claims that he supports vaccine safety rather than opposing inoculations entirely.
Del Bigtree, who previously directed communications for Kennedy's presidential campaign, told attendees that divine opposition to vaccines required their advocacy. Mark Gorton of the MAHA Institute similarly urged more aggressive anti-vaccine stances. The event drew parents of autistic children, homeopaths, and medical professionals who maintain beliefs linking vaccines to autism, contradicting numerous large-scale scientific studies.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky participated virtually, questioning why former health official Anthony Fauci had not faced criminal charges. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Andrew Wakefield, whose discredited 1998 research connecting vaccines to autism resulted in losing his medical license, received enthusiastic receptions from conference participants.
Del Bigtree, who previously directed communications for Kennedy's presidential campaign, told attendees that divine opposition to vaccines required their advocacy. Mark Gorton of the MAHA Institute similarly urged more aggressive anti-vaccine stances. The event drew parents of autistic children, homeopaths, and medical professionals who maintain beliefs linking vaccines to autism, contradicting numerous large-scale scientific studies.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky participated virtually, questioning why former health official Anthony Fauci had not faced criminal charges. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Andrew Wakefield, whose discredited 1998 research connecting vaccines to autism resulted in losing his medical license, received enthusiastic receptions from conference participants.
