Measles offers a clean example of what a high-risk-versus-no-risk dichotomy misses.The virus can erase immune memory, among other serious consequences.
The official count for 2026 measles cases in the US nears 3,000, though the real number is likely higher.
With the reporting of two measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania, there’s a fear the outbreak is undercounted.
The baby died of a laceration of the spleen, which may have been caused by a measles infection in the mother. But RFK Jr is alleging these deaths may be fabricated.
Both people were unvaccinated and lived in Lancaster County, where a large measles outbreak started earlier this year.
One approach to sowing mistrust in vaccines is to read a package insert aloud and present every event it lists as a proven harm, which is highly misleading.
This week Pennsylvania added 89 new cases, and Ohio's outbreak grew by 73 infections.
The outbreaks are largely preventable through inexpensive, effective vaccination.
Three shots are not better than one. They involve more injections, more visits, higher costs, more time spent incompletely protected. And no demonstrated benefit.
As exemptions increase across the country, the number of children protected by vaccines is dropping, which could lead to more infectious disease outbreaks.
