COVID fallout partly to blame for measles resurgence: Ex-CDC director
( NewsNation ) — The number of measles cases in the U.S. has surpassed 5,100 this year, a level that hasn't been seen since 1991. Pennsylvania has the worst single-state outbreak, with 1,400 cases and six measles-associated deaths.
Robert Redfield, who was appointed as CDC director during the first Trump administration, blames the resurgence, in part, on the type of vaccine skepticism that was spawned during the COVID pandemic, when he says the government oversold the benefits of the coronavirus vaccine.
The best anti-measles strategy now, he said, is to try to persuade communities to get the measles vaccine to help protect their most vulnerable members. The current measles vaccination rate of 92% falls short of the critical 95% threshold needed to contain outbreaks, Redfield told "Elizabeth Vargas Reports" on Friday.
Wisconsin reports first measles death since 1990
"There's some people that can't get vaccinated," such as infants and pregnant women, he said.
"The only way we can help them is to get the community vaccinated at high rates."
People who contract measles have a 20% chance of being hospitalized, Redfield said.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
