NEW MEXICO/TEXAS – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was reportedly involved in a conversation last week regarding the use of holistic and unproven remedies for families affected by the ongoing measles outbreak along the Texas-New Mexico border.
Discussion on Alternative Treatments
Texas-based activist and historian Tina Siemens spoke with Mother Jones, revealing that she participated in a phone call with Kennedy and Dr. Ben Edwards, a physician from Veritas Wellness, a clinic advocating alternative medicine. Siemens explained that the discussion aimed to better understand the Mennonite community, which has been blamed by some for the outbreak.
“The media is portraying the Mennonites as unvaccinated and uneducated, but that’s simply not true,” Siemens stated.
Distribution of Alternative Remedies
Siemens and Veritas Wellness have reportedly distributed Vitamin C, cod liver oil, and inhaled steroids to approximately 150 to 200 families affected by the outbreak. She emphasized that she values personal choice in vaccination decisions, noting that Texas allows parents to opt out of vaccinations for their children.
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Veritas Wellness and Dr. Ben Edwards
Veritas Wellness, founded by Dr. Edwards, promotes holistic treatments and lifestyle changes as alternatives to pharmaceuticals. According to the clinic’s website, Edwards had a “divine revelation” in 2011 that led him to challenge conventional medical education, which he claims focuses too heavily on pharmaceuticals rather than addressing the root causes of disease.
Kennedy’s Position on Measles Vaccination
Kennedy, who has long been known for his vaccine skepticism, recently acknowledged in a Fox News op-ed that measles vaccines can protect individuals and contribute to community immunity. However, he maintained that vaccination is a personal choice.
Despite his recognition of the vaccine’s effectiveness, Kennedy has also endorsed other treatments, including steroids, antibiotics, and cod liver oil. In a Fox News interview, he claimed that some Texas doctors have observed positive results using these approaches.
Measles Outbreak Worsens
The Texas-New Mexico measles outbreak continues to escalate, with 228 confirmed cases and two fatalities—a child and an adult. While Vitamin A is sometimes used to treat severe measles cases, there is no scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of cod liver oil as a treatment .
