Did a Flu Shot Reaction Lead to RFK Jr.’s Anti-Flu Vaccine Agenda?
On the origins of RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine agenda. Was it a flu shot reaction?
It is well known that many anti-vaccine influencers are motivated by the belief that either they or a family member were injured by a vaccine. And of course others are motivated to push propaganda to boost page views, and sell supplements, books, and tickets to seminars…
Did a Flu Shot Reaction Lead to RFK Jr.’s Anti-Flu Vaccine Agenda?
What about RFK Jr.?
Is RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine agenda motivated by his belief that a flu shot caused him to develop spasmodic dysphonia - the reason he has a raspy voice?
“Kennedy has repeatedly said he suspects the flu vaccine triggered his spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological voice disorder, and that he stopped getting flu shots in 2005.
Although he acknowledges he is unable to prove a connection, he said his eyes were opened to a link after reading vaccine inserts while he was engaged in litigation against flu vaccine manufacturers.”
Inside RFK Jr.’s push against the flu vaccine that he links to his voice condition
Would that mean he has been anti-vaccine since 2005, with a possible flu shot reaction to blame?
“Three top voice medical experts as well as the nonprofit Dysphonia International said in interviews that there is no scientific basis for the claim that the flu vaccine is behind Kennedy’s condition.”
Inside RFK Jr.’s push against the flu vaccine that he links to his voice condition
A reaction that likely was not caused by a flu shot, no matter what he read in that vaccine insert, which often lists adverse reactions that don’t have a causal relationship to the vaccine.
“A Washington Post review of 11 vaccine inserts for flu vaccines found dysphonia listed as a possible side effect on one type of flu shot, but not spasmodic dysphonia.”
Inside RFK Jr.’s push against the flu vaccine that he links to his voice condition
Interestingly, although dysphonia is in the insert, spasmodic dysphonia isn’t even listed on the package insert for any flu vaccine!
Instead, many suggest that his condition is instead linked to RFK Jr.’s past drug use, which includes heroin (he was a heroin addict for 14 years), methamphetamine, LSD, and snorting cocaine off toilet seats!
What’s really interesting though, is that Kennedy is said to have developed spasmodic dysphonia around 1996, at age 42.
Why is that interesting?
There was no recommendation for adults to get a flu shot at that time.
So when did Kennedy get this flu shot that caused him to have spasmodic dysphonia?
What else?
By 2005, when Kennedy reportedly stopped getting flu shots, he was already clearly in the anti-vaccine camp.
Remember, that’s the year that he wrote the now retracted, “error-laced” expose in 2005 about vaccines and autism (Deadly Immunity) that appeared in both Salon and Rolling Stone. That’s the article in which Kennedy blames thimerosal in vaccines as the cause for autism!
An article he reportedly wrote after talking to the mothers of vaccine injured children, like Sarah Bridges, who connected a pertussis vaccine to her child’s seizures and developmental delays.
“I was drawn into the controversy only reluctantly. As an attorney and environmentalist who has spent years working on issues of mercury toxicity, I frequently met mothers of autistic children who were absolutely convinced that their kids had been injured by vaccines. Privately, I was skeptical.”
The Panic Virus
The mothers of these children seemingly helped him get over his skepticism that vaccines could be associated with autism and other vaccine injuries.
“In the course of that, I got approached by these autism mothers, who made the point to me that the levels of environmental mercury were dwarfed by [that which] children were getting from vaccines.”
Autism’s False Prophets
To me, that makes it seem more likely that he was becoming anti-vaccine already and that’s what motivated him to connect the adverse events in the flu vaccine package insert to his condition.
Also remember that this was a time that Kennedy had already teamed up with trial lawyers, and many felt that he would stand to benefit from suing vaccine manufacturers.
Plus, RFK Jr isn’t just targeting flu vaccines. His anti-vaccine agenda has him going after all vaccines!
Update - Although they have not said so publicly, it does appear that other Kennedy family members also have spasmodic dysphonia.
More on RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Agenda
Inside RFK Jr.’s push against the flu vaccine that he links to his voice condition
Inside RFK Jr.’s push against the flu vaccine that he links to his voice condition https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/02/21/vaccine-safety-risk-kennedy-rfk/
I thought spasmodic dysphonia was genetic. Doesn’t his sister have it? And I remember Grandma Rose’s voice shaky
I blame RFKjr for my dandruff and it pisses me off that I can’t sue him for it.
Oh. Wait. I CAN sue him. But I’d lose. Because there’s no causal connection.