U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Sunday expressed his “deep concern” about the Texas measles outbreak and cautioned that parents should consult with health-care providers “to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine” for their children.
Kennedy outlined in an opinion piece on Fox News the outbreak represents a “call to action for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to public health.”
He called for a considered response on vaccines and their availability from all concerned based solely on science:
As healthcare providers, community leaders, and policymakers, we have a shared responsibility to protect public health. This includes ensuring that accurate information about vaccine safety and efficacy is disseminated. We must engage with communities to understand their concerns, provide culturally competent education, and make vaccines readily accessible for all those who want them.
It is also our responsibility to provide up-to-date guidance on available therapeutic medications. While there is no approved antiviral for those who may be infected, CDC has recently updated their recommendation supporting administration of vitamin A under the supervision of a physician for those with mild, moderate, and severe infection. Studies have found that vitamin A can dramatically reduce measles mortality.
