WELLINGTON, New Zealand – On Monday, Samoa’s health chief vehemently refuted claims made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his Senate hearing regarding his qualifications to lead the United States health department. Kennedy suggested that some individuals who perished in the 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa were not actually suffering from measles, a statement that Dr. Alec Ekeroma, Samoa’s Director-General of Health, categorically denounced as “a complete lie.” Kennedy made these statements last week during contentious Senate hearings, implying uncertainty around the causes of the 83 deaths, which predominantly involved children under five.
Dr. Ekeroma condemned Kennedy’s assertions, stating they represented a total distortion of facts and emphasized that there was no ambiguity concerning the fatalities from measles. Last week, U.S. senators questioned Kennedy about his visit to Samoa in 2019, pressing him on accusations that he downplayed his involvement during the deadly outbreak that severely impacted the island nation.
The 2019 measles epidemic wreaked havoc across Samoa, leading to the loss of 83 lives within a population of around 200,000. Contributing to this tragedy were historically low vaccination rates driven by inadequate public health management. In particular, a 2018 incident involving incorrectly prepared vaccinations resulted in the deaths of two infants. This unfortunate event caused widespread distrust in the safety of the MMR vaccine and prompted a government decision to suspend vaccinations for a period of 10 months, coinciding with Kennedy’s visit, which was organized by a Samoan anti-vaccine advocate.
Kennedy has dismissed claims that his presence aggravated anti-vaccine sentiments. A spokesperson for Kennedy did not provide immediate comments regarding the claims made by Samoan officials as of Monday. Dr. Ekeroma clarified that anti-vaccine activists from New Zealand were drawn to Samoa during Kennedy’s visit, indicating the potential influence he holds in such critical matters.
During the Senate hearings, Kennedy stated that tissue samples sent to New Zealand indicated that many deceased individuals did not have measles. Dr. Ekeroma, a seasoned medical professional, labeled this claim a significant denial of reality, reinforcing that several international medical teams were present to handle the measles cases in Samoa. While he was not in charge during the outbreak, he corroborated critical facts with his predecessor. He noted that only one autopsy was completed, and it is typical for measles cases not to generate postmortem samples for external analysis due to the disease being straightforward to diagnose. Additionally, live patient blood samples tested in Australia and New Zealand confirmed the same measles strain that was circulating at the time.
Kennedy justified his trip to Samoa, asserting it was unrelated to vaccines, but rather about introducing a medical informatics system designed to enhance healthcare efficiency. However, Dr. Ekeroma refuted this claim by referencing social media posts from anti-vaccine activists who posed alongside Kennedy during this visit. One of these activists later indicated on Kennedy’s organization’s blog that a group, assembled through Kennedy’s connections, provided alternative treatment advice during the epidemic. The same blog entry indicated Kennedy’s meeting with Samoa’s then-prime minister to discuss health outcomes stemming from a halt in vaccinations—an event Kennedy categorized as a “natural experiment.”
In his subsequent correspondence to the prime minister, Kennedy suggested that the deaths might have been linked to the measles vaccine, repeating similar claims in responses to senatorial inquiries after the hearings. He even advised the Samoan leader to reach out to a specific laboratory to investigate the outbreak’s origin.
Kennedy maintained that his words had no impact on vaccine acceptance in Samoa or related to the epidemic. Nevertheless, Dr. Ekeroma argued that Kennedy’s presence empowered anti-vaccine sentiments in Samoa, exacerbating the epidemic fueled by misinformation on various platforms. Moelagi Leilani Jackson, a nurse involved in the vaccination efforts, revealed in 2023 that anti-vaccine voices grew louder following Kennedy’s visit, stating that it seemed they felt they had Kennedy’s endorsement. However, Dr. Ekeroma noted that Kennedy’s suggestions were largely ignored by Samoa’s leadership, pointing out that vaccination campaigns recommenced in 2019 and made measles vaccination mandatory for children.
With Kennedy’s potential new role as the top U.S. health official approaching a decision, Dr. Ekeroma expressed serious concerns regarding the implications for the Pacific region, affirming that such an appointment might pose dangers, including restricting access to vaccinations for small nations like Samoa, which rely on U.S. funding for these initiatives. He added that if Kennedy assumes the position, discussions within the Pacific states will be necessary to strategize on counteracting his influence in the region.
