Fact-Checking Child Health Claims

Health Secretary RFK Jr. Claims the US Has the Sickest Children in History

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that despite high healthcare spending, the US is failing its children on an unprecedented level. This statement was made during a speech at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. Kennedy's statement ignored the massive decrease in childhood mortality and infectious disease rates since the 19th century. Sanitation, vaccination and antibiotics have contributed to a significant decrease in child mortality over the 20th century, and the U.S. under-5 mortality rate is about 80% lower than the global average. However, by some measures, U.K. children’s health has deteriorated in recent decades and they have worse mortality rates than peers in other developed countries. A 2024 report stated that the US ranked at the bottom among wealthy nations on the mental wellbeing, physical health, and academic and social skills of children.

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