Overview

• Over 600 measles cases and multiple deaths have been reported in Texas, primarily affecting unvaccinated children, with the outbreak spreading to 22 states.
• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent endorsement of the MMR vaccine has drawn criticism from both vaccine advocates and his anti-vaccine supporters.
• Former FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks resigned after refusing to grant Kennedy's team unrestricted access to the VAERS database, citing concerns over data integrity.
• Kennedy's HHS tenure has seen sweeping organizational changes, including significant layoffs at the NIH, halting critical clinical trials and vaccine research.
• Public health experts have condemned the administration's response to the outbreak, citing restricted CDC communication and mixed messages on vaccine safety.