PITTSBURGH (PTTP)- Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator at the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid, said in a February 8th interview that Americans should be getting vaccinated
for the measles vaccine amidst rising case numbers and general vaccination distrust.
Oz works under health and Human Services secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., who has
at times supported the vaccine and at others sowed distrust by saying it had not been
safely tested. Dr. Sharon Welburn, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the
University of Pittsburgh, says this mixed messaging from Kennedy, Oz, and the federal
government could affect vaccination rates.
“When we see these two sides that don’t seem to match up, especially when one is
somebody in your federal government,” Welburn said, “that’s going to lead to fewer
vaccination rates.”
The mixed messaging comes as measles cases rise across the US, with 20 states
reporting cases as of February 10th. Additionally, South Carolina is seeing its largest
outbreak with 920 measles cases reported since last fall. Welburn says some of this rise
in cases could be due to mistrust or confusion about US vaccine guidelines, especially
following the January 5th changes to recommendation status for some childhood
vaccinations.
In Alleghany County, there have been no reported cases of measles yet, though
Lancaster County has seen five. Allegheny city’s health department (ACHD) put out a
statement about monitoring the area for measles.
“We highly recommend every resident check their immunization record and speak with
their personal healthcare provider or visit the ACHD Immunization Clinic to discuss how
to protect themselves and their loved ones from measles,” said the department in a
press release.