Republican US senator slams Trump vaccine policy amid rising measles deaths

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy has criticized the Trump administration's vaccination policies, linking them to a rise in measles deaths in the United States. Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, pressed Dr. Nicole Saphier, the Trump administration's nominee for surgeon general, on her views regarding vaccines and public health. He emphasized the need for science-based decisions in public health appointments, especially as the US faces its most severe measles outbreak in over 35 years. Saphier eventually stated that she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism and that the MMR vaccine is crucial for combating measles. The article notes that members of the Trump administration have been criticized for promoting debunked claims about vaccines.

Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate health committee, attributed recent measles deaths in Pennsylvania to the Trump administration's "vaccine-skeptical approach" and misinformation. He challenged a Trump nominee for surgeon general, Nicole Saphier, to explicitly state that vaccines do not cause autism. Cassidy argued that these deaths, occurring during the nation's worst measles outbreak in over three decades, represent a "terrible legacy" for the administration. Saphier stated she does not believe the MMR vaccine is lethal and called it the "greatest tool for combating measles," though Cassidy expressed concern about reaching vaccine-hesitant individuals by "feeding into untruths." The article also notes Cassidy's previous criticism of Trump's claims about vaccine safety and changes to CDC website content regarding vaccines and autism.

Pennsylvania has reported its fourth measles-associated death, marking the worst year for the disease in the state since 1992. All four reported US deaths have occurred in Pennsylvania, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not including these in its national tally due to a change in reporting by the Trump administration. The most recent death was an 18-year-old diagnosed with encephalomyelitis, a severe neurological complication. Pennsylvania has recorded nearly 700 measles cases, with outbreaks concentrated in Lancaster and Mifflin counties. Measles is highly contagious, and while the MMR vaccine is highly effective, declining vaccination rates among children are a concern.

The Trump administration, through the CDC, has changed how measles deaths are reported amidst an outbreak in Pennsylvania, where a third probable measles-related death was reported. The CDC is now using data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for mortality trends, a system former CDC officials find puzzling for individual case confirmation. Previously, the CDC used the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Pennsylvania has confirmed two measles-related infant deaths this year, and a 40-year-old unvaccinated woman with COPD died from probable measles. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously questioned measles death counts and has a history with an anti-vaccine organization. The HHS maintains that MMR vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles.

A 40-year-old unvaccinated woman in Pennsylvania has died from measles, marking the third reported death from the disease in the United States this year. Health officials confirmed the death occurred on Saturday due to complications from measles. The other two measles-related deaths also occurred in Pennsylvania earlier this year, involving unvaccinated individuals in Lancaster County. Measles, declared eliminated in the US in 2000, is a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease. As of the article's reporting, there have been 3,294 measles cases across more than 45 states in 2026, and 2,289 cases with three deaths in 2025.

Pennsylvania has reported a potential third death related to its ongoing measles outbreak, with a 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County dying on Saturday. This follows two previous infant deaths in August, one of whom had a genetic defect and the other who died from a ruptured spleen after contracting measles. Measles is highly contagious and can cause severe complications in people of all ages. As of last week, Pennsylvania had nearly 700 measles cases across 37 counties, with concentrations in Lancaster and Mifflin counties. This outbreak occurs amid a reported decline in childhood vaccination rates, with experts citing the vaccine's past success and vaccine skepticism as contributing factors.