WASHINGTON (AP) — A leading U.S. health official has called on people to get vaccinated against measles as outbreaks spread across multiple states, posing a threat to the U.S. measles elimination status. “Take the vaccine, please,” emphasized Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Oz stated in an interview, “Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses, but measles is one you should get your vaccine.”
Recent outbreaks have been recorded in South Carolina and near the Utah-Arizona border, affecting primarily children. Experts have flagged the increasing public distrust in vaccines as a contributing factor to the resurgence of what was once deemed eradicated.
Oz reassured viewers that Medicare and Medicaid would continue to cover the measles vaccine, reinforcing that access to vaccination would remain a priority for the administration. Despite the controversies surrounding vaccines, particularly re-energized by anti-vaccine sentiments, he urged the public to consider the importance of immunization in protecting community health.
“There will never be a barrier for Americans to access the measles vaccine,” he stated firmly.
The CDC has reported a decline in vaccination rates alongside an increase in the number of children exempt from vaccines, raising alarms among health officials about the potential long-term implications for public health.
Meanwhile, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s past advocacy against widespread vaccination practices faces scrutiny, as his comments often conflict with established scientific consensus. As discussions on vaccine efficacy continue, Oz reiterated, “When the first outbreak happened in Texas, he said, get your vaccines for measles.”
The push for vaccination comes at a critical time, taking into account ongoing challenges in restoring public trust in health recommendations following the pandemic.
