Jessica McDonald

Philadelphia

Science editor for @factcheckdotorg's SciCheck. Previously @WHYYNews, @SciFri & AAAS Mass Media Fellow at @KUNC. @YaleIBIO immunology PhD.

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Articles

RFK Jr.’s Flawed Justifications for ‘Clean Sweep’ of CDC Vaccine Advisory Panel

1 week ago | factcheck.org | Jessica McDonald |Jessica Mcdonald

Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousted all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory panel, claiming it “has been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest and has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine.” But there’s no evidence of problematic conflicts of interest or that the group inadequately scrutinizes vaccines.
Q&A on New COVID-19 Vaccine Policies

3 weeks ago | factcheck.org | Catalina Jaramillo |Jessica McDonald |Jessica Mcdonald

Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. In the past two weeks, U.S. public health authorities have skirted normal procedures and announced two major policy changes that will likely reduce access to COVID-19 vaccines and restrict use to higher-risk populations.
Trump Administration Incorrectly Claims Certainty About Origin of Coronavirus

1 month ago | factcheck.org | Jessica McDonald

Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. Since regaining power, the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed with false certainty that the COVID-19 pandemic originated in a lab.
RFK Jr.’s Misleading Line on the Chickenpox Vaccine

1 month ago | factcheck.org | Jessica McDonald |Jessica Mcdonald

Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. Speaking before Congress, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert. F. Kennedy Jr. misleadingly claimed that Europe doesn’t vaccinate children against chickenpox because a study shows that when you do, “you get shingles in older people.” While that is a theoretical concern, studies have not borne that out — and parts of Europe do vaccinate kids.
RFK Jr. misleads on autism prevalence, causes

2 months ago | nbclosangeles.com | Kate Yandell |Jessica McDonald |Jessica Mcdonald

In announcing new autism prevalence data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.
No sign of Texas measles outbreak slowing, contrary to RFK Jr.’s claims - Roll Call

2 months ago | inkl.com | Jessica McDonald |Jessica Mcdonald

Two days later, in Phoenix, Ariz., Kennedy repeated the claim. “Our strategy has been very successful,” he said of dealing with the measles outbreak. “The number continues to grow by the day, but the growth rate … has diminished substantially.”In an interview CBS News released on April 9, he said, “the rate of the increase has substantially decreased, so we are successfully controlling it.” And in an April 10 Cabinet meeting, Kennedy again said that measles cases “have now plateaued.”Andrew T.
No Sign of Texas Measles Outbreak Slowing, Contrary to RFK Jr.’s Claims

2 months ago | factcheck.org | Jessica McDonald |Jessica Mcdonald

Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. On four separate occasions, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services secretary, has suggested that the measles outbreak in Texas, which is now over 500 cases, is beginning to subside and grow more slowly. But a review of state data indicates there’s no decline yet in the pace of cases.
Posts Make Unsupported Claims About Origin of Texas Measles Outbreak

Mar 27, 2025 | factcheck.org | Jessica McDonald |Jessica Mcdonald

The measles vaccine uses a weakened virus that’s never been shown to spread to others. Samples from the outbreak in Texas also show that a wild-type virus is responsible. Yet, social media posts have falsely claimed that the outbreak is due to a vaccine strain. Without evidence, other posts have blamed immigrants crossing the southern border illegally. In 2000, following widespread vaccination, the U.S. eliminated measles, a highly contagious disease that can cause serious health complications.
RFK Jr. Misleads About Measles Vaccine in Hannity Interview

Mar 21, 2025 | factcheck.org | Catalina Jaramillo |Jessica McDonald |Jessica Mcdonald

In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made several unsupported or misleading claims about the measles vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said is safe and “the most important tool to prevent” the disease. Meanwhile, a measles outbreak in Texas continues to expand.
Measles Is Harmful, Contrary to Flimsy Social Media Claims of Long-Term Benefits

Mar 14, 2025 | factcheck.org | Jessica McDonald |Jessica Mcdonald

Measles is an extremely contagious vaccine-preventable disease that can lead to death or disability. It also wipes out immune memory for several years after an infection. As an outbreak in Texas continues to expand, social media posts have claimed without sufficient support that measles infections are beneficial later in life against cancer and other diseases, an idea health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has echoed.