Dorothy

On Wednesday, classifications of their deaths started being described as the deaths being from measles (as many stories and reports indicated) to “measles-associated deaths.” Pennsylvania health officials describe a “measles-associated death” as an instance when “laboratory or epidemiologic evidence of measles is present, but the official cause of death is under investigation,” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Then, Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni allegedly revealed that his office was investigating the death of a newborn who died from a ruptured spleen but had tested positive for measles.

The Samoa trip also came under scrutiny. Kennedy told the senators that his Samoa visit did not influence people’s decisions on whether to vaccinate.

“I am writing this letter to you in the hope that we might be helpful to the people of your great nation,” Kennedy wrote, adding that he believed the deaths of the two children could have resulted from manufacturing issues.

Attorneys with expertise in Senate procedure said that if Democrats win control of the House or Senate in November’s elections, they could use Kennedy’s statements as grounds for hearings, an impeachment inquiry or create other obstacles for the Trump administration.

The letter did not specifically discuss anti-vaccine activism. The prime minister responded a month later, saying Samoa could benefit from CHD’s assessment of MMR vaccines.