Bhattacharya Urges Vaccinations As Measles Surges And US Faces Loss Of Eliminated Status

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Measles cases are growing at an alarming rate across the United States, placing the nation in a position where it is poised to lose its status as a country where the disease is eliminated. This is a distinction the country has held since 2000, but as of January 20, the U.S. technically met the criteria to lose that standing. In response to this shift, the Pan American Health Organization has scheduled an April meeting with the U.S. and Mexico to review data and evaluate their respective statuses.

In a newly issued video statement posted to social media, acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya has now addressed the crisis directly. He urged families in a video statement on March 2, to consider vaccination as outbreaks continue to spread, noting that the CDC is currently surging resources and working with states to increase outreach. This comes as the CDC reports 1,136 confirmed cases and 10 new outbreaks already this year, following a previous year that was the worst for measles in decades with 2,300 cases.

“There is no cure for measles, which is why prevention is so critical. The MMR vaccine remains the most reliable and effective way to prevent it. Two doses are 97% effective at providing lifelong protection against measles and its complications. Vaccination protects not only individuals but entire communities,” said Bhattacharya.

The acting director also noted that health care providers are there to help families make informed choices with confidence. This specific language mirrors the approach of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has worked to reframe vaccine discussions around the idea of informed consent and shared clinical decision-making.

While Bhattacharya has criticized specific pandemic-era mandates in the past, he is not a vaccine denier in the general sense, whereas Kennedy has spent decades as a prominent vaccine skeptic whose public actions often lead health experts to label him a denier.

“Our goal is simple, healthy children, thriving families and strong communities today and into the future,” added Bhattacharya. “Measles is preventable and vaccination remains the most effective way to protect yourself and those around you that commitment reflects our core priorities, protecting the American people, acting with integrity and transparency and serving with humility and accountability.”