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Schumer demands RFK Jr. declare measles emergency, saying he 'walked' US into outbreak

USA Today reports:

“Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declare a nationwide emergency over spiking measles cases, accusing him of fueling the outbreak by dismantling public health and undermining trust in vaccines.

"Under your tutelage as Secretary, you have undermined vaccines, gutted public health funding, and dismantled core federal protections meant to keep Americans safe," Schumer wrote in a July 11 letter.

"You have walked our country into the nation’s largest measles outbreak in 33 years," he added.

Measles cases skyrocket, especially in unvaccinated

A quarter century after measles were eradicated in the U.S., cases have skyrocketed this year, reaching 1,288 confirmed cases across 39 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three people have died this year. Officials say almost nine in ten of the cases are spread across New Mexico and Texas, the site of a Mennonite community that became the initial hub of the outbreak earlier this year.

Most cases – 65% – are in people 19 years old and younger, and the vast majority – 92% – are unvaccinated people.

The outbreak has turned attention and heavy criticism from health experts towards Kennedy's vaccine skepticism and baseless claims that vaccines are dangerous and ineffective. Kennedy has said the measles vaccine weakens over time – a claim disputed by scientists – and that "we can't rely simply on the vaccine" to address the outbreak.

He has also downplayed the measles outbreak, saying more focus should be turned on chronic diseases like diabetes and autism instead.

In May, Kennedy directed the CDC to find new "scientific process" for treating measles and other diseases with drugs and vitamins. Although vaccines would still be recommended as the best way to prevent the disease, some "may choose not to vaccinate."

Kennedy fired all 17 members of a vaccine advisory last month, refilling it with some vaccine skeptics who have announced their first priority would be retooling vaccine recommendations for children.

Kennedy's drastic cuts to department programs and slashing of thousands of workers at the department have sparked alarm from public health experts and outrage from Democratic lawmakers. Kennedy said in April he would sack 10,000 Health and Human Services employees as part of the Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal workforce.

Since then, the department has faced a myriad of legal challenges, most recently from top medical organizations over Kennedy dropping the COVID vaccine from the list of recommended shots for children and pregnant women.

Schumer is the latest Democrat on Capitol Hill to upbraid Kennedy in recent days over the measles outbreak.

"We have a record-breaking number of measles cases in America," Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA, wrote on X, accusing Kennedy of filling the vaccine panel with "unvetted vaccine skeptics."

“ Where is our public hearing on this crisis?"

The measles vaccine is 97% effective at preventing the disease when administered in the recommended two doses, according to the CDC.

Since the start of the COVID pandemic, when skepticism of vaccines surged, buoyed by online conspiracies and distrust of public health institutions, measles vaccinations have dropped across the nation.
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Senator Schumer is 100% correct! There must be a public hearing on this measles outbreak centered on RFK, Jr’s mishandling of this outbreak, his lack of any legitimate qualifications for his post, his refusal to properly mobilize public health resources to effectively handle and contain the outbreak, his refusal to address the need for immediate widespread vaccination with the readily available/highly effective/and SAFE MMR vaccine, and his refusal to acknowledge his own personal liability for his anti-vaccination stance! This isn’t the first measles outbreak he has played a key role in causing.

What’s more, Kennedy’s whacky “preferred therapy” of chicken soup, castor oil, and Vitamin A supplements resulted in children presenting to Texas hospitals with acute Vitamin A toxicity. Hypervitaminosis A is virtually unheard of in America and all the first world countries and it is perhaps a more serious health threat than measles. Like measles, it is potentially fatal and is associated with liver failure, seizures, neurological complications, and a range of other serious complications. And it is 100% preventable!

And there’s still more—Senator Cassidy (R—LA) who is a physician and not only voted to approve Kennedy but was instrumental in every single Republican Senator voting for approval!

Cassidy clearly recognized that Kennedy was unqualified, yet bowed to tRUMP’s pressure to approve this unqualified fool. Cassidy should have been out front calling for Kennedy to resign—instead he hid and hasn’t come forward to accept his role in allowing this to occur.

Cassidy should resign. He put his own, personal career ahead of his responsibilities to protect his constituents.