Robert F. Kennedy Jr. instructed the CDC not to count the four measles deaths in Pennsylvania.
Posted by All In with Chris Hayes, Checked
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All In with Chris HayesSep 19, 2026
Sources report that Kennedy pushed the CDC to exclude Pennsylvania measles deaths, but the instruction is attributed to reports and Gov. Shapiro's accusation rather than a primary record. The Hill describes the exclusion as covering two Lancaster County deaths, not all four, and Kennedy's role is 'reportedly' rather than documented.
A detail. The sources confirm the gist; the verdict faults a detail such as a date, number or wording.
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What was said
… If the, that this is what happened, the State of Pennsylvania says we have four measles deaths. Two infants too young to be vaccinated, an 18-year-old who was unvaccinated, and a 40-year-old woman who was unvaccinated, all died of measles. And Kennedy just told his CDC to say, no, don't count them. And if you don't count them, can't really complain. And so that is what we're seeing. And, you know, it's not just that. I think it's really important what you've talked about this whole show, because this is what's also happening at Kennedy's HHS. …
All In with Chris Hayes · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. The Hill describes the excluded deaths as the two Lancaster County deaths, not all four Pennsylvania deaths, so the claimed scope of 'the four' is not directly supported at the time.[3]
Supports. The Hill reports the decision to exclude the Pennsylvania deaths 'reportedly came from' CDC director Dr. Erica Schwartz 'at the behest of Kennedy.'[3]
Supports. Gov. Shapiro publicly said the Secretary 'personally intervened' to direct the CDC not to report the Pennsylvania deaths, a claim reported by The Hill.[3]
Context. Politifact and The Atlantic document Kennedy calling the Pennsylvania deaths possibly 'fabricated' and questioning the measles attribution, which is consistent with a motive to keep them out of the count.[1][4]
Context. The CDC's own stated reason for omission was that 'available information does not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths,' and Reuters reports the CDC had not confirmed the deaths. No source documents a direct Kennedy instruction in an official record.[2][5]
Sources
5 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 1 tier 1, 1 tier 2, 1 not rated
- 1Dissecting RFK Jr. and PA Gov. Josh Shapiro's measles ...politifact.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 2US CDC confirms first measles-related death of 2026, does ...reuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 3Pennsylvania reports teen as fourth measles death amid ...thehill.com · tier 1 · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 4Pennsylvania’s Measles Outbreak Is Enormoustheatlantic.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
- 5The CDC left two measles-associated Pa. deaths out of its latest count after RFK Jr. sparred with Gov. Shapironewsobserver.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post