Bulwark Takes: RFK Lied About Vaccines—Now Kids Are Paying the Price
Release Date: May 11, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Bulwark Takes, host Jonathan Cohn delves into the critical issue of vaccine safety amidst the backdrop of a severe measles outbreak in Texas. Joined by esteemed public health expert Joshua Sharfstein Northland, the conversation navigates through the intricacies of vaccine development, debunking myths, and addressing the alarming influence of high-profile figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on public perception of vaccines.

1. The Measles Outbreak and Vaccine Hesitancy

The episode opens with Jonathan Cohn outlining the dire situation in Texas, which is experiencing the worst measles outbreak in decades. As of the recording, there are 702 cases, with 92 hospitalizations and two child fatalities—marking the first known child deaths from measles since 2003. Cohn emphasizes that nearly every case stems from unvaccinated individuals, a trend exacerbated by influential figures questioning vaccine safety.

Quote:
"Nearly every case of the measles we're seeing is from somebody who was not vaccinated... leaders question vaccines, it's hard to know what to do."
— Jonathan Cohn [00:00]

2. Vaccine Safety: Expert Insights

Joshua Sharfstein, a board-certified pediatrician and father of two, passionately advocates for vaccination. He recounts his proactive approach in vaccinating his children against pneumococcal meningitis before it became widely recommended, highlighting the importance of vaccines as scientific triumphs with benefits far outweighing the risks.

Quote:
"I think that vaccines are incredible scientific accomplishments. It's very important that they are studied very carefully for safety."
— Joshua Sharfstein [02:35]

3. The Vaccine Development Process

Cohn prompts Sharfstein to elucidate the rigorous process vaccines undergo before reaching the public. Sharfstein breaks down the stages:

• Preclinical Phase: Laboratory research to design the vaccine and determine its potential efficacy.
• Phase One: Initial safety testing with a small group.
• Phase Two: Assessing the vaccine's ability to elicit a protective antibody response.
• Phase Three: Large-scale trials involving tens of thousands to confirm efficacy and monitor for adverse effects.

Quote:
"Vaccines are tested against placebos when they come onto the market... there's a whole safety process to assess vaccines after they get approved."
— Joshua Sharfstein [07:22]

4. Addressing Claims of Insufficient Testing

The conversation shifts to recent statements by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who alleges inadequate vaccine testing and advocates for enhanced safety measures, including more placebo-controlled studies. Sharfstein counters these claims by affirming that vaccines undergo extensive testing and continuous safety monitoring post-approval.

Quote:
"Secretary Kennedy has said all sorts of untrue things about the measles vaccine... the infrastructure is getting weaker."
— Joshua Sharfstein [17:10]

5. The Rapid Development of COVID-19 Vaccines

Cohn raises concerns regarding the accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccines, questioning their safety given the swift timeline. Sharfstein clarifies that while the development stages were expedited by overlapping phases and substantial funding, the vaccines underwent rigorous trials with tens of thousands of participants, ensuring their safety and efficacy.

Quote:
"There was such an imperative to get a vaccine that the process happened in the usual stages, but those stages were all funded at the same time."
— Joshua Sharfstein [11:11]

6. mRNA Vaccines: A New Frontier

The discussion touches on the novel mRNA technology used in some COVID-19 vaccines. Sharfstein explains that although mRNA vaccines were newly marketed, the underlying technology had been studied for decades, ensuring a solid foundation for their rapid deployment and high safety standards.

Quote:
"There was a lot of science that had been done for decades on this technology, and then that science fed into this opportunity to protect people."
— Joshua Sharfstein [13:14]

7. Debunking the MMR-Autism Myth

A significant portion of the episode addresses the persistent myth linking the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to autism, a claim propagated by a now-retracted 1998 Lancet paper. Sharfstein underscores the extensive research disproving any connection between vaccines and autism, highlighting the retraction and lack of credible evidence supporting the original claim.

Quote:
"Studies involving thousands of patients have repeatedly failed to find any association between vaccines and autism."
— Joshua Sharfstein [15:04]

8. RFK Jr.'s Impact on Vaccine Programs

In the episode's concluding section, Cohn probes into Secretary Kennedy's actions since his appointment, questioning whether he is undermining vaccine confidence and public health infrastructure. Sharfstein provides a critical overview, citing incidents such as the dismissal of the FDA's lead vaccine regulator, significant funding cuts to vaccination efforts, and the controversial allocation of $500 million to outdated vaccine technologies.

Quote:
"Secretary Kennedy has said all sorts of untrue things about the measles vaccine... the infrastructure is getting weaker."
— Joshua Sharfstein [17:10]

Sharfstein warns that these actions could have detrimental effects on public health, particularly amid ongoing outbreaks, and emphasizes the need for transparent, scientifically sound policy changes.

Conclusion

This episode of Bulwark Takes offers a thorough examination of vaccine safety and the challenges posed by misinformation. With Joshua Sharfstein’s expertise, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the vaccine development process, the resilience of scientific evidence against debunked myths, and the current threats to public health posed by influential skeptics. The discussion underscores the critical importance of maintaining robust vaccine programs to protect children and communities from preventable diseases.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Nearly every case of the measles we're seeing is from somebody who was not vaccinated... leaders question vaccines, it's hard to know what to do."
  — Jonathan Cohn [00:00]

• "I think that vaccines are incredible scientific accomplishments. It's very important that they are studied very carefully for safety."
  — Joshua Sharfstein [02:35]

• "Vaccines are tested against placebos when they come onto the market... there's a whole safety process to assess vaccines after they get approved."
  — Joshua Sharfstein [07:22]

• "There was such an imperative to get a vaccine that the process happened in the usual stages, but those stages were all funded at the same time."
  — Joshua Sharfstein [11:11]

• "There was a lot of science that had been done for decades on this technology, and then that science fed into this opportunity to protect people."
  — Joshua Sharfstein [13:14]

• "Studies involving thousands of patients have repeatedly failed to find any association between vaccines and autism."
  — Joshua Sharfstein [15:04]

• "Secretary Kennedy has said all sorts of untrue things about the measles vaccine... the infrastructure is getting weaker."
  — Joshua Sharfstein [17:10]

Key Takeaways

• Vaccine Safety: Vaccines undergo a stringent multi-phase testing process ensuring their safety and efficacy before public deployment.

• Misinformation Impact: High-profile figures spreading unfounded claims about vaccines significantly contribute to vaccine hesitancy and outbreaks of preventable diseases.

• Scientific Consensus: Extensive research robustly refutes any link between vaccines and autism, reinforcing the safety of immunization programs.

• Current Challenges: Actions by certain public officials pose risks to the integrity and effectiveness of vaccine programs, potentially reversing decades of public health achievements.

For those seeking to understand the complexities surrounding vaccine safety and the sociopolitical factors influencing public health, this episode of Bulwark Takes serves as an informative and thought-provoking resource.