National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Aug. 9, 2026

Key Points:

• NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya addressed ongoing food safety concerns, including cyclospora and salmonella outbreaks linked to various produce and meat products, emphasizing that agencies are actively investigating and recalling contaminated sources to protect consumers.
• Measles cases in the U.S. have reached a 35-year high, with vaccination rates below the herd immunity threshold in most states; Bhattacharya stressed the importance of vaccination and noted targeted efforts to control outbreaks in specific communities.
• Bhattacharya highlighted the challenge of restoring public trust in health authorities, attributing distrust partly to public health decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including school closures and vaccine mandates, and called for open scientific dialogue without political interference.
• On vaccine safety and autism, Bhattacharya stated there is no evidence vaccines cause autism but acknowledged ongoing research into autism's rise, advocating for broad scientific inquiry free from political pressure.
• Regarding the 2025 CDC shooting motivated by vaccine misinformation, Bhattacharya honored the fallen officer and underscored the need to address misinformation and rebuild trust, while cautioning against attributing blame narrowly to political figures or media.