NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya says "I trust the science" on childhood vaccines amid measles outbreak

Key Points:

• Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, emphasized the importance of vaccinating children against measles and other preventable diseases, urging parents to trust the science and vaccinate their kids before returning to school.
• Measles cases have reached their highest levels in 35 years, with only 10 states meeting the 95% vaccination coverage needed for herd immunity among kindergarteners for the 2024-2025 school year, according to the CDC.
• Bhattacharya criticized fearmongering around unvaccinated children in schools, stating that vaccinating kids is the best protection and that sending children to school is crucial despite outbreaks being contained in specific states.
• He addressed the rise in autism diagnoses, acknowledging that the causes are complex and not fully understood, and stressed the need for scientific inquiry without political interference, while distancing from vaccine-autism misinformation promoted by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Bhattacharya deferred details on a rumored White House executive order on childhood vaccines and autism but affirmed that the administration is deeply concerned about autism and committed to scientific research on the issue.