With the 2nd measles death of the year, and all the misinformation coming from America’s fake health and science boss RFK Jr., as well as the continued proliferation of anti-vaccine lies and hysteria, how about a close hard look at the facts:

1. CLAIM: RFK Jr. said that measles outbreaks are not unusual in the U.S.
FACT: The MMR vaccine is so effective that measles had been eradicated in the U.S. by the early 2000s. So, NO, measles outbreaks were NOT usual. In fact, they were nonexistent, at least until recently, when vaccine hesitancy started to grow due to the lies and disinformation coming from people like RFK Jr.

2. CLAIM: Measles is not serious.
FACT: In the U.S., the mortality rate for measles is around 0.1-0.3%. (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(25)00164-1/fulltext). A gambler might consider this to be low odds of dying from the disease. However, just a few years ago, one’s chance of dying from the disease was ZERO because the disease didn’t exist in the U.S. The two people who died of measles over the past few weeks would not have died if vaccination rates were still at 95% or higher.

3. CLAIM: Measles is not serious.
4. FACT: In lower income countries, the mortality rate for measles is around 3-4%, which is quite high. This is due primarily to the effects of malnutrition, which weakens the immune system. Trump’s slashing of USAID funding will likely result in an increase in measles deaths in countries that once relied on USAID to support their vaccination programs.

5. CLAIM: Measles is not serious.
6. FACT: 20% of unvaccinated people who catch measles in the U.S. will become hospitalized due to complications; 5% of children who get measles will develop pneumonia from the disease; 0.1% of children who get measles will develop encephalitis; and unvaccinated pregnant women who catch the disease have an elevated risk of having premature births or babies with low birth weight. (https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html). Measles also impairs one’s immune system, making them more susceptible to other infections, and it can cause brain swelling, seizures, blindness, deafness, and brain damage.

7. CLAIM: Measles is not serious.
8. FACT: 7-10 years AFTER a measles infection, survivors still run the risk of developing Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) a rare, but fatal disease of the central nervous system. From 1989-1991, they estimate that 7 to 11 out of every 100,000 people with measles were at risk for developing SSPE. That risk is higher for those who contract measles before the age of 2. (https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html) And, of course, that risk is 0 for communities with a 95% or higher vaccination rate.

9. CLAIM: MMR vaccine is more dangerous than measles. OR it causes febrile seizures in kids.
FACT: Febrile seizures are extremely rare with vaccines, including MMR. 0.03-0.04% of kids who get the MMR vaccine will get febrile seizures, and most will recover fine. But the risk of febrile seizures is much higher if you actually get measles. (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html). Therefore, the vaccine is actually protective against this symptom.

10. CLAIM: The measles vaccine is not very effective
FACT: It is 97% effective, one of the highest rates for any vaccine out there. What this means, in actuality, is that 97% of those who receive the vaccine will develop lifelong immunity, and will have almost no risk of ever catching measles, spreading it to others, or dying from it. The 3% for whom it does not provide full lifetime immunity are still protected from ever catching the disease, assuming the community vaccination rate is at 95% or higher.

11. CLAIM: So, what if I’m not vaccinated? The disease is rare. I’m not going to catch it.
12. FACT: Measles is the most infectious disease known. 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed will get measles. (https://www.nfid.org/resource/frequently-asked-questions-about-measles/) I guess if you always wore a properly fitted N95 in public you might be safe-ish. But how many anti-vaxxers out there actually wear masks?