The CDC Buried a Measles Forecast That Stressed the Need for Vaccinations
ProPublicaMAR 19
Measles Outbreak: Texas, New Mexico Cases Jump 20% In 3 Days
Above: A tray of the MMR vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. Image copyright: Jan Sonnenmair/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
It's an outrage that the CDC took the decision not to release findings about the risks associated with vaccine hesitancy to the public. The organization has failed in it's fundamental responsibility to encourage as many Americans as possible to receive measles vaccines, leaving the unvaccinated — as well as those living in areas with low rates of uptake — at risk of serious medical complications. The impact of critics like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is clearly being felt.
Narrative B
The CDC's decision not to reveal it's assessment doesn't necessarily reflect a move away from evidenced and scientifically-backed public health policy. Simply telling the public what to do, especially in a post-pandemic age of social media disinformation, doesn't guarantee positive action. With trust in government reaching historic lows, agencies must reevaluate their public health strategies, as restoring faith in established medical practice will be crucial to the long-term welfare of the American people.