A Texas father who lost his 8-year-old daughter to measles has refused to vaccinate his other children, sparking outrage from the public and criticism from health experts. Peter Gildebrand, who met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccination activist, claimed that vaccines are ineffective and that his daughter’s death was not preventable.
Gildebrand’s statement contradicts scientific evidence, which shows that one in 1,000 unvaccinated individuals can die from measles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported over 600 cases of measles in the US this year, with three deaths attributed to the disease.
The Child Health Defense, an anti-vaccination nonprofit founded by Kennedy, promotes a conspiracy theory that vaccines are toxic and cause health epidemics. This perspective is not supported by scientific evidence.
Many people have expressed their shock and outrage on social media, calling Gildebrand’s actions “neglect” and “abuse.” Critics argue that vaccines are essential for public health and that anti-vaccination ideologies can lead to preventable deaths.
Kennedy has been at the center of a measles outbreak in the US, with many blaming him for spreading misinformation about vaccines. Despite his recent endorsement of the importance of vaccination, those in the anti-vaccination movement believe he is working behind the scenes to dismantle vaccine infrastructure and undermine public trust in medical science.
As the US grapples with the ongoing measles outbreak, Gildebrand’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of ignoring scientific evidence and promoting misinformation about vaccines.
Source: https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/04/father-of-unvaccinated-girl-who-died-of-measles-makes-infuriating-claim.html