CDC Director Promotes Measles Vaccine as Best Way to Protect Population

CDC director Jay Bhattacharya has taken to X to promote the measles vaccine as cases continue to rise. CIDRAP has the news.

In a video, he stated that “measles is preventable and vaccination remains the most effective way to protect yourself and those around you.” This perhaps indicates that the White House could be “applying pressure to the CDC and [HHS] to back off some of the anti-vaccine messaging that dominated the agencies last year ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.” Reportedly, HHS secretary Kennedy may be moving from vaccines toward “’real food’ policies.”

Additionally, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has delayed its decision on the U.S.’s measles elimination status until November. The U.S. did ask for the deadline to be pushed back, but some experts noted the delay could be justified so more complete genomic sequencing can be accomplished before the decision is made. However, it is important to note other experts say “the administration does not want to lose elimination status before the midterm elections.”