RFK Jr.’s Influence: Anti-Vax Sentiment Surges in Europe

Recent research indicates that the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a key health position in the US is amplifying anti-vaccine movements across Europe, raising concerns among health officials.

Social Media’s Role in Spreading Misinformation

A study by Ripple Research reveals a significant increase in social media engagement on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) regarding RFK Jr. and vaccines. Analysis of French, German, and Italian posts shows nearly a million likes, shares, and comments within the first quarter of 2025. Disturbingly, over half of the top-performing posts contained misinformation.

This surge coincides with a worrying trend: measles cases in Europe have doubled, reaching a 25-year high, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

UNICEF Study Highlights Social Media Impact

UNICEF is currently conducting research in Romania and France, with preliminary data suggesting that social media influences vaccination decisions for a significant portion of caregivers.

Alexei Ceban, an immunisation specialist at UNICEF, emphasizes the “clear connection” between misinformation and outbreaks, urging for “timely immunisation” to prevent severe consequences like pneumonia and blindness caused by measles.

Experts Concerned About Eroding Vaccine Confidence

Professor Heidi Larson of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine warns that RFK Jr.’s position “empowers” anti-vaccine views, making them harder to dismiss. She highlights the shift of these views from fringe positions into the mainstream and the potential for previously confident individuals to question vaccine safety.

COVID-19 Jabs Targeted

The research also identified key moments when posts about RFK Jr. spiked, often accompanied by misinformation narratives regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Despite scientific consensus confirming the vaccines’ safety, misleading claims continue to spread.

Combating Misinformation: A Call for a New Approach

Larson calls for innovative strategies beyond fact-checking to tackle the spread of vaccine misinformation. She argues that a “whole different approach” is needed to address the underlying movements that undermine confidence in vaccines.

Euronews has reached out to the US Department of Health and Human Services and X for comment.

Keywords: RFK Jr., vaccines, anti-vax, misinformation, Europe, measles, social media, public health, UNICEF, WHO, vaccine confidence, COVID-19.