In 2018, improperly prepared vaccines — after nurses mixed doses with muscle relaxants instead of water — led to the deaths of two Samoan children. The incident sparked widespread mistrust in the vaccine program, including from Samoa’s prime minister, who suspended MMR immunizations altogether.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green had a scathing rebuttal to claims made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s during his confirmation hearing Wednesday regarding a 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa. “He’s a liar, and it’s bulls--t,

Kennedy’s confirmation hearings are Wednesday and Thursday before two Senate committees, which will then vote on if his nomination advances to the full Senate.