RFK Jr. says parents should vaccinate their children against measles

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asserted that the measles shot is safe and that parents who haven't vaccinated their children against the disease should do so.

"I will say it right now, that people — parents should get their children vaccinated for measles," Kennedy said. "A measles vaccine is effective. It stops measles in about 97% of the cases. So people should get vaccinated."

Kennedy has a history of amplifying misinformation about vaccines, including the shot that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Previously, he has claimed the vaccine is "leaky" and that its immunity declines significantly each year.

Kennedy's endorsement of the measles vaccine comes as the United States is experiencing a 35-year high in measles cases. So far this year, the country has recorded 2,295 measles cases, making it the highest count since 1990.

(Weixel, The Hill, 8/3; Pilkington, The Guardian, 8/2)

Fauci invokes 5th Amendment during Senate hearing on COVID-19 origins

During a Senate committee hearing investigating the origins of the pandemic, Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who led the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions.

In response to Fauci invoking the Fifth Amendment, Homeland Security Chair Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said the committee would vote on a contempt resolution.

Paul has accused Fauci of lying about the origins of the coronavirus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic for years, claiming Fauci funded research in China that led to the pandemic, which Fauci denies.

During the hearing, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) claimed that Fauci alone was responsible for lockdowns that occurred during the pandemic, deaths, vaccine injuries, and Americans' loss of trust in public health.

"The haphazard information you released and pushed on the American people with little research is appalling," Scott said. "You forced loved ones to die alone, destroyed the federal government's credibility when it comes to public health."

Paul argued that Fauci's use of the Fifth Amendment was "unsupported" since former President Joe Biden preemptively pardoned Fauci before leaving office; however, Fauci argued that making any new statements that could open new lines of investigation could get him in trouble.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said the hearing was part of a "campaign against science" that "has made this country less safe."

"If there are valid scientific questions about the origins of this pandemic … they should certainly be addressed, but not in a show trial, not as part of a continuing vendetta against a single individual," Blumenthal added.

(Nather, Axios, 7/29; Stolberg, New York Times, 7/29)

Meanwhile, HELP Committee ranking member Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said that while he was impressed with Schwartz, he wouldn't be supporting her nomination because he didn't believe she would stand up to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if it was needed.

"We have a secretary of Health and Human Services who fosters and propagates conspiracy theories on vaccines and other important issues. And the question, I think, big question before this committee: Are nominees going to be prepared to stand up to those conspiracy theories, those dangerous theories?" Sanders said. "I do not, unfortunately, think that Dr. Schwartz is prepared to do that."

(Choi, The Hill, 7/30)

HHS changes charters for two vaccine-related committees

HHS has made changes to the charters of two vaccine-related committees: the Advisory Committee on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV) and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC).

The ACCV advises HHS on policies and procedures for the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program while NVAC advises the department on national vaccine strategy.

In the ACCV charter, HHS removed the provision requiring a designated federal officer, eliminated reporting requirements, and added a provision that the "federal official responsible for ACCV oversight" can serve as temporary chair.

Meanwhile, the NVAC charter now says the committee should consider "non-immunization strategies," such as healthy lifestyle and disease prevention initiatives; off-label, repurposed use of existing FDA-approved drugs; and dietary supplements that support healthy immune function.

Richard Hughes IV, the attorney leading the American Academy of Pediatrics' lawsuit against HHS' changes to vaccine policy, said the timing isn't unusual for changes to the charters, as they're both up for renewal. "What is not normal, however, are some of the changes being made," he said.

Hughes said the changes to ACCV's charter are "concerning" and noted that it's "unclear if this means they will attempt to not have a [designated federal officer] in the future."

He added that the changes to NVAC's charter are "deeply concerning" because the purpose of NVAC "revolves around the use of vaccines and immunizations in the control of infectious diseases, not dietary supplements and unproven non-vaccine interventions."

(Fiore, MedPage Today, 7/23)