Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday announced a “targeted PREP Act declaration” to support the development and deployment of medical countermeasures related to Andes virus.

RFK Jr. said Andes virus “can cause the deadly respiratory illness Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.”

“This action helps remove barriers to research and response efforts while we continue monitoring the recent outbreak linked to the South Atlantic cruise ship. HHS is taking this situation seriously and will continue working to protect public health and support the safe development of potential treatments and countermeasures,” he continued.

The health secretary received a lot of criticism from MAHA advocates for the declaration.

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“Sec. Kennedy’s Press office needs to do a whole lot better. They could have saved themselves a whole lot of negative press by stating just what this declaration is and isn’t. Why wasn’t it made clear that this PREP Act Declaration was limited in scope and focus to a specific antiviral drug? Clarity from a communications office should be a no-brainer,” Dr. Robert Malone said.

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“Isn’t this what they are trained to do? A press office operating in 2026 should understand that an unexplained declaration doesn’t stay unexplained; the vacuum gets filled, and it gets filled by whatever is most shareable,” he continued.

“At first glance I thought Secretary Kennedy became fully compromised. Until I read the actual PREP Act declaration,” said Nicolas Hulscher, epidemiologist and administrator at the McCullough Foundation.

“It ONLY covers favipiravir for 2 months — an antiviral shown to protect 100% of animals from lethal Andes virus infection. NO vaccines are covered. Nonetheless, we all know the PREP Act is unconstitutional and should be repealed,” he continued.

“The PREP Act is medical malpractice martial law, and should be repealed. It supersedes all state tort laws and allows cronies at pharmaceutical and medical device companies to literally get away with murder as long as their victims can’t prove there was malicious intent,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) previously said about the PREP Act.

In a video published earlier this month, RFK Jr. discussed how the COVID-19 response systematically destroyed inalienable rights protected in the U.S. Constitution.

“They said that if it’s a company that is providing a countermeasure, no matter how negligent they were, no matter how reckless they were, no matter how egregious your injury, you can’t sue them,” he said.

“They systematically, in a single year, dismantled the entire Constitution of the United States,” he added.

Watch below:

On Saturday, RFK Jr. responded to the backlash sparked by his announcement.

“Don’t believe Internet fearmongers. @HHSGov defends public health AND supports medical freedom — period,” he said.

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RFK Jr. said the HHS action does not do the following:

❌ Does NOT pave the way for a new mRNA vaccine

❌ Does NOT provide Big Pharma with new, limitless protections from liability

❌ Does NOT allow for mandates of ANY kind

❌ Does NOT apply to any other medical products

❌ Does NOT apply to vaccines

He said the HHS action does the following:

✅ Facilitates expanded access of favipiravir — and favipiravir ONLY — to treat hantavirus

✅ Allows individuals possibly exposed to Andes virus to access this drug

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✅ Only covers VOLUNTARY administration and use — NO mandates

✅ Provides protection for a VERY LIMITED TIME, through July 18, 2026

Read the full PREP Act declaration HERE.

 

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