Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said on Tuesday that it's "crazy" to not get vaccinated against certain viruses amid an outbreak of measles in Florida.
"And to not get vaccinated, when we've seen decades of proof that they work and they keep people safe and healthy and alive, is crazy," Becerra said on CNN. "I'm not sure how else to say it."
Becerra acknowledged that he isn't a medical professional himself but added that he knows "enough to know that if you're keeping your child from being vaccinated from something very contagious, you're not just hurting your child, you're hurting the children of your neighbors and your friends."
The context:
Over the past few weeks, several cases of measles have been reported in Florida with many cases stemming from local elementary schools.
Newsweek previously reported that eight cases of the measles virus have been reported in Florida with at least five cases linked to the Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston.
The CDC states that receiving two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is "about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective."
"Widespread use of measles vaccine has led to a greater than 99% reduction in measles cases compared with the pre-vaccine era," the CDC states.
Newsweek reached out to the Florida Department of Health via email for comment.
What we know:
Last week, the Associated Press reported that Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo sent out a letter to schools regarding the measles outbreak allowing parents to make their own decisions on sending unvaccinated children to school.
The letter reportedly states that it is "normally recommended" to keep unvaccinated children out of school due to the high risks of being infected with measles but notes that a vaccine mandate will not be issued at this time.
Views:
In a statement last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics in Florida responded to the measles outbreak and said, "Measles vaccines are highly effective at preventing illness. Children should receive their first dose of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years."
The statement also directed parents to the CDC guidelines on measles which encouraged the use of the MMR vaccine in children.
What's next:
According to data from the CDC, there have been 35 total cases of measles reported across 15 different states in 2024, including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.
Update 2/27/24, 8:04 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and to note that Newsweek reached out to the Florida Department of Health for comment.
Update 2/27/24, 9:10 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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