Health

Axios - A surge of recent measles cases approaching half of the 30-year high recorded in 2025 is stoking more criticism of the Trump administration's lukewarm endorsement of vaccines. There have already been more than 1,100 measles cases this year, overwhelmingly in unvaccinated people, putting the U.S. at risk of losing its measles elimination status.

• While top officials have stressed that the MMR vaccine is the most effective protection, they've repeatedly portrayed vaccination as a personal choice and ruled out new mandates.

Senate health committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) repeatedly pressed President Trump's surgeon general nominee, Casey Means, at a hearing last week on whether she would encourage vaccination against measles in response to outbreaks.

• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of vaccine criticism that has fueled mounting criticism that he could be doing more to fight the outbreaks.
• "RFK isn't 100% to blame — but he helped fuel the [vaccine] hesitancy we're dealing with," Jerome Adams, President Trump's first surgeon general, wrote on X on Sunday. "Now HE is in charge of the (clearly failing) response."...

The CDC remains in upheaval and hasn't had a full-time political leader since Susan Monarez was fired amid a dispute over changing vaccine recommendations.  More