RFK Jr.’s Raspy Voice and the Irony of Vaccine Protection
RFK Jr.’s strained voice stems from spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological disorder. Ironically, research shows measles and mumps vaccines may protect against the condition, even as Kennedy has fueled skepticism about vaccines while leading federal health policy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Secretary of Health and Human Services, has long been known for the tremble in his voice — a symptom of spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological disorder that causes involuntary spasms of the vocal cords. The condition has no known cure and affects an estimated 50,000 people in North America, disproportionately women (NPR).
Kennedy has spoken publicly about his diagnosis for decades. “I have a tremble in my voice … particularly when I first start talking,” he told The Diane Rehm Show in 2004. He has undergone repeated Botox injections in his vocal cords, one of the most common treatments (NPR).
But new scrutiny of Kennedy’s health has surfaced as he faces mounting criticism over chaos at the CDC, his overhaul of vaccine policy, and calls for his resignation.
The twist: vaccines may protect against Kennedy’s condition
Ironically, scientific research has identified a protective factor against spasmodic dysphonia: vaccination.
A case-control study published in The Laryngoscope examined 150 patients with spasmodic dysphonia compared to 136 with other voice disorders. It found that measles and mumps vaccines were protective against the onset of the condition (PubMed). The study also identified other contributing risk factors, such as viral infections, throat illnesses, family history of tremor, and heavy voice use.
In other words: Kennedy, who has made a career out of questioning the safety and necessity of vaccines, lives with a disorder that research suggests vaccines could help prevent.
The politics of a voice
Kennedy has admitted he “can’t stand” the sound of his own voice and feels “sorry” for those who have to hear it (NPR). But for critics, his raspy delivery has come to symbolize something larger: the dissonance between his personal health struggles and his public crusade against vaccination.
Whether coincidence or cruel irony, the fact remains that vaccines — which Kennedy has cast as a threat — may be part of the reason some people never develop the condition that defines him.
Sources
Author
Morgan Kessler is a pseudonym, used to protect against the rising risk of online harassment and doxxing. Sources are found at the bottom of each article written by this author.
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