EDITORIAL: Pop! go the measles

It has not been an entirely bad week for science, vaccines, and those committed to protecting families from preventable diseases—but it has been a complicated one. The mixed signals coming from the nation's capital illustrate the strange contradictions of public health policy in 2026.

On the positive side, progress on measles vaccination efforts has continued, with public health officials pushing back against the resurgence of a disease that was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. The current outbreaks have underscored the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates, and some communities have responded with increased uptake.

However, the backdrop is troubling. The Pentagon, under Secretary Pete Hegseth, has dropped a flu vaccine mandate for American troops—a decision that raises questions about military readiness during a time of global conflict. Meanwhile, Robert Kennedy Jr. continues to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, bringing with him a long history of vaccine skepticism that stands in stark contrast to the scientific consensus on immunization.

The result is a public health environment where mixed messaging is the norm. Officials promote vaccination while the leadership at HHS has expressed doubts. The military removes a vaccine mandate while measles cases climb. These contradictions have real consequences: when people receive inconsistent signals about vaccine safety and necessity, hesitancy grows.

Measles is among the most contagious diseases known to science. It requires vaccination rates above 95 percent to maintain herd immunity. Every percentage point below that threshold increases the risk of outbreak—something communities across the country are now experiencing firsthand.

What This Means For You: The measles outbreaks are not abstract headlines—they're a direct threat to your community's health. Check your family's vaccination records, especially if you have young children. In a time of conflicting messages from the top, your best move is to follow the science: vaccines are safe, effective, and the reason measles was ever eliminated in the first place.