The resurgence of measles—a disease that can cause brain swelling, permanent disability, or death—is alarming enough on its own. The United States has seen more than 1,700 cases this year, a dramatic rise from roughly 70 cases annually in the early 2000s. Three children died from measles last year. But public health officials warn that this outbreak may be just the beginning. "Measles is basically a canary in the coal mine for our entire system," says Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama's state health officer. "When it surges like this, it signals that our vaccination programs are starting to fail, and that other diseases won’t be far behind."
Already, whooping cough cases have spiked, and after two Florida children died from Hib—a bacterial infection once rare thanks to vaccines—epidemiologists fear that disease is also making a comeback.
The most frustrating part is that this crisis was entirely preventable, stemming largely from a yearslong scare campaign by vaccine conspiracists, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as Health and Human Services secretary under President Trump. Since taking office, Kennedy has turned harmful ideas into federal policy: downplaying measles outbreaks, promoting unproven treatments, replacing an expert vaccine panel with unqualified allies, and altering the childhood vaccine schedule without proper review.
Yet there are glimmers of hope. In March, a federal judge blocked Kennedy's vaccine schedule changes, calling them "arbitrary, capricious, and likely illegal." The Trump administration hasn't appealed. Last week, Trump nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz—a well-qualified Navy officer who supports vaccines—to lead the CDC. And Kennedy, under congressional scrutiny, has at times softened his rhetoric, even acknowledging the measles vaccine is recommended for all children.
But Kennedy's underlying views likely haven't changed, and the threat persists. The military recently dropped its flu vaccine requirement, and the CDC canceled a study showing continued benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.
Reversing growing vaccine skepticism will require a united effort from state officials, Congress—especially Republicans—doctors, religious leaders, and corporate leaders. Protecting Americans from deadly, preventable diseases should not be a partisan issue, regardless of opportunists' attempts to make it one.