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Pennsylvania records first 2 measles deaths in 35 years
Confirmed
Many of the changes were blocked by a federal judge earlier this year.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that calls for fewer childhood vaccinations and recommends splitting the MMR vaccine into three separate shots. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month calling for the number of recommended vaccines for children to be reduced, continuing a push to roll back decades of scientific consensus on the safety and efficacy of vaccinations.
In a media briefing Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had spoken with Kennedy, who offered the assistance of federal health staffers. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said on Tuesday that both of the deceased were unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, but did not share additional details due to privacy concerns. Speaking on Tuesday, Shapiro said he spoke with Kennedy over the phone that morning and that he had offered to send staff from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "This is a serious and a growing problem across our country and in our commonwealth," Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said in a news conference on Tuesday.
“Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity of the illness,” said Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen. Two people who were not vaccinated against measles have died of the virus in Pennsylvania, health officials said. The state has been promoting measles vaccinations as cases have risen, and about 35,000 people have been vaccinated, up from the usual pace of about 25,000 per month, officials said. — Jonathan Poet and Mike Stobbe Stobbe reported from New York. Pennsylvania has counted nearly 400 measles cases this year, state officials said. Decades of widespread vaccinations turned measles cases and deaths into a rarity, causing people to forget that the very contagious virus can be deadly, said Dr. David Margolius, director of Cleveland’s health department and a leader in a coalition of big city health departments.
What's confirmed
- “Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity of the illness,” said Pennsylvania…
- Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that calls for fewer childhood vaccinations and recommends splitting the MMR vaccine into three separate shots.
- US President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month calling for the number of recommended vaccines for children to be reduced, continuing a push to roll back decades of scientific consensus on the…
- Two people who were not vaccinated against measles have died of the virus in Pennsylvania, health officials said.
- Shapiro said he was "very blunt" with Kennedy about vaccinations.
- In a media briefing Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had spoken with Kennedy, who offered the assistance of federal health staffers.
- Decades of widespread vaccinations turned measles cases and deaths into a rarity, causing people to forget that the very contagious virus can be deadly, said Dr. David Margolius, director of Cleveland’s health…
- Pennsylvania has counted nearly 400 measles cases this year, state officials said.
What's still developing
- The Pennsylvania Department of Health said on Tuesday that both of the deceased were unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, but did not share additional details due to privacy concerns.
- "This is a serious and a growing problem across our country and in our commonwealth," Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said in a news conference on Tuesday.
- Many of the changes were blocked by a federal judge earlier this year.
- Speaking on Tuesday, Shapiro said he spoke with Kennedy over the phone that morning and that he had offered to send staff from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).