Austin anti-vaccine activist Del Bigtree has doubled down on a position that has stunned public-health experts, telling a reporter that he would rather see his own children catch measles and polio than have them vaccinated. The comment, part of a longer sit-down interview, comes as the United States deals with a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and as Bigtree's growing platform keeps him in the middle of the fight over so-called health freedom.
According to The Atlantic, Bigtree told reporter Tom Bartlett over coffee near Austin that he had considered driving his unvaccinated family to South Carolina to be exposed to disease, and that he "wants his teenage son to catch polio and measles." Bartlett also reported that Bigtree told him, "I genuinely am upset that your kids are vaccinated."
Who Bigtree Is in Austin
Local coverage notes that Bigtree has been based in Austin since 2019 and runs the Informed Consent Action Network, along with a political arm, ICAN Legislate, from the city, as reported by the Austin American‑Statesman. He also served as communications director for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2024 presidential campaign and helped organize the Make America Healthy Again movement. Those ties have kept him visible in national anti-mandate and vaccine-sceptic circles and a lightning rod in Austin's own public-health debates.
Outbreaks and the Stakes
Public-health officials warn that openly encouraging deliberate infection is not just provocative; it can pour gasoline on outbreaks that are already underway. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 982 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. in 2026 as of Feb. 19, 2026, with health departments in several states managing active outbreaks. Separate reporting by the AP details a substantial measles outbreak in South Carolina that has led to hundreds of cases and school quarantines. Measles is highly contagious and can trigger serious complications, particularly in infants and people with weakened immune systems.
What Science Says
Major health institutions continue to reject claims that childhood vaccines cause autism and emphasize that modern immunization schedules are extensively tested and monitored. The World Health Organization's Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety reaffirmed in December 2025 that available evidence shows no causal link between vaccines and autism, as outlined by the WHO. U.S. medical groups have urged parents to vaccinate their children to prevent hospitalizations and deaths. Physicians say that intentionally exposing kids to measles, polio, or pertussis invites the risk of severe illness and spreads danger beyond one household, putting entire communities at risk.
Local Fallout and Political Ties
Bigtree's latest comments arrive at a time when federal public-health agencies are facing scrutiny over policy shifts and how they communicate them. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is listed on the Department of Health and Human Services website as the U.S. secretary of HHS, and national reporting has documented changes at federal agencies under his tenure, including shifts in how official vaccine guidance is presented. In Austin, health advocates say remarks like Bigtree's make it harder to rebuild trust and increase vaccination rates ahead of the spring school season, even as preventable diseases keep knocking at the city's door.
