Measles, a dangerous childhood disease that only a few years ago had virtually disappeared, has returned, largely due to fear and skepticism over the safety of the measles vaccine. Pennsylvania and South Carolina are the epicenters of the current measles outbreak in the USA, with cases reported in Spartanburg, Pennsylvania increasing from 330 in 2025 to 610 so far this year.
Robert Kennedy’s distrust of the measles vaccine—his view that vaccines are a “potential culprit” in disorders ranging from autism to allergies—has led to a dangerous decline in vaccinations, creating the environment for outbreaks like the current ones. His view is disputed by medical experts. Dr. Daniel Jernigan, who oversaw vaccine safety at the Center for Disease Control until he resigned in August, said, “The secretary is going to continue to try and look at the data and analyze it in a way that will help support the conclusions that he’s already made.”
To counteract Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccines, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota has initiated a Vaccine Integrity Project, led by former chiefs of the National Academy of Medicine and the Food and Drug Administration. It will convene leaders across public health and medicine.
