Two individuals died from measles in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Department of Health announced these deaths this Tuesday, marking the first recorded in the American state in the last 35 years. Additionally, they are the first measles deaths in the United States this year.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Debra Bogen expressed her condolences to the affected families, stating in a press release that because measles had been practically eradicated in the state for over three decades, people are not fully aware of the potential severity of the disease.
International press sources indicated that both deceased victims were unvaccinated. This announcement comes after the neighboring state of Maryland reported a measles outbreak in at least three counties. It is important to note that measles is extremely contagious, and vaccination proves to be a very effective method in controlling the infection.
In the same month, the American executive officially revoked the recommendation for the MMR vaccine (which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella) through a presidential order by Donald Trump, which requires a restructuring of childhood vaccination guidelines. The new order suggests administering the MMR in three separate doses, given during separate appointments, and advises the Department of Health to enhance research on vaccines, as detailed in a White House document released by the American press.
Currently, only the MMR vaccine exists for children in the United States; there are no separate vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella. Although vaccinating school-aged children is the responsibility of American states and not the federal government, many Republican-leaning state governments will have to comply with the directives issued by the White House.
Public health experts cited by the Associated Press expressed concern about Trump's suggestion to space out vaccines, as this could increase the risk of children contracting diseases during the interval between appointments, even those against which they already have immunity.
In December, Trump instructed the Department of Health and Human Services to survey vaccination recommendations in other countries and evaluate the possibility of revising American guidelines to align. The department, under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—known for being skeptical about vaccination—responded by reducing the number of recommended vaccines per child, but this change was later blocked by a court decision.
More recently, with the approach of the November midterm elections, Trump has focused on less controversial health topics, such as promoting healthy eating and efforts to reduce drug costs.