NIH director trusts science on childhood vaccines amid measles surge

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, stressed the critical importance of childhood vaccinations, particularly against measles, as cases reach a 35-year high. "I trust the science" on vaccines, he stated, urging parents to protect their children by ensuring they are vaccinated.

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I trust the science

Speaking on "Face the Nation," Bhattacharya acknowledged the erosion of public trust in health institutions following the COVID-19 pandemic. He called it a "tremendous mistake" to instill fear in parents about sending their children to school, arguing that vaccination is the key to mitigating risks. "You vaccinate your kids, you can protect your kids from those risks, whatever they are," he said.

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I think that parents,for most kids, especially for the measles vaccines, the DTP, all the standard childhood vaccines, it's very important that parents vaccinate their kids.

Bhattacharya noted that only 10 states met the 95% herd immunity threshold for measles coverage among kindergartners in the 2024-2025 school year. He pointed to the successful containment of measles outbreaks in Texas, Arizona, Utah, and South Carolina as evidence of vaccination's effectiveness. "The best way to protect your kids from measles is to get the vaccine for measles," he asserted, emphasizing a focus on high-risk communities to end current outbreaks in states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and others.

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I'm giving my recommendation, I've vaccinated my kids.