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Kennedy Jr backtracks and says US measles outbreak is now a ‘top priority’ for health department (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 day ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/health@lemmy.world

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Summary

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reversed his stance on a measles outbreak in Texas, now calling it a "top priority" after initially describing it as "not unusual." This shift comes after the first U.S. measles death in a decade was reported.

Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine views, announced his department would send 2,000 MMR vaccine doses to Texas.

CDC data shows 164 measles cases reported across nine jurisdictions as of February 27, with approximately 95% of infected individuals being unvaccinated.

Meanwhile, Kennedy's HHS department plans to eliminate public participation in many agency policy decisions, contradicting his previous promise of "radical transparency."

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[–] ajoebyanyothername@lemmy.world 42 points 1 day ago (2 children)

"not unusual"...first U.S. measles death in a decade

Yup, things that don't happen for ten years are just run of the mill, nothing to see here.

department would send 2,000 MMR vaccine doses to Texas.

It's a bit late for that!

[–] protist@mander.xyz 33 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

It's really not too late, every unvaccinated person who receives a vaccine today is one person who's less likely to become a transmission vector. Also, this MMR shipment would potentially replenish dwindling stocks, because lots of people in West Texas who hadn't previously been vaccinated have already been getting vaccinated

To be clear, I'm not defending RFK Jr and his literally insane ideas in any way

[–] ajoebyanyothername@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I was being a bit facetious, but also there's a good chance there's enough unvaccinated people out there now acting as vectors that we might be looking at mutations that have overtaken the vaccine. Absolutely agree that the more people vaccinated the better, and I really hope it can out a stop to this outbreak!

[–] protist@mander.xyz 9 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

The measles virus doesn't mutate like coronaviruses or influenza viruses, that's why the vaccine has been so successful at eradicating it

[–] ajoebyanyothername@lemmy.world 5 points 23 hours ago

Well, that is reassuring at least!

[–] Fiivemacs@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If only they didn't spend so much time weaponizing vaccines as bad...

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 3 points 23 hours ago

what are you, a (((globalist)))?!?!

[–] tburkhol@lemmy.world 25 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Think about it from RFK's perspective: he goes on an antivax campaign in California, and measles breaks out in Disneyland. He goes on an antivax campaign in Samoa, and measles break out in Samoa. He campaigns in Texas...measles outbreak. I'm sure it looks to him like measles is everywhere.

[–] ajoebyanyothername@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

What a good but terrifying point!