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March 30, 2025
In this urgent blog, Dr. Vin Gupta calls out the dangerous misinformation surrounding the current measles outbreak and shares three critical truths everyone should understand—because while we can’t control everything, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones.
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My wife is a pediatrician, and I am an adult pulmonologist. As doctors, we’ve become accustomed to tragedy—cases that were unexpected and not preventable and those that were very much entirely avoidable. It’s a part of the turf when you sign up to be a doctor—you expect to navigate deep sadness and constant what ifs. So much of life is beyond our control, and by its very nature, life is fleeting and precious.
Which is why when I see the incumbent Secretary of Health and Human Services continue to play coy with facts on the ongoing measles outbreak that he is presiding over, it makes me angry. He and his staff do not have to contend with its direct consequences; that’s on us, those of us relied upon to provide bedside care to those who need it. Our seniormost health leadership doesn’t carry that responsibility—most of them are not actively credentialed medical providers and most never were.
In response, the nation needs clarity because we all should be able to control what we can control. We will not downplay basic facts here. The AFT and myself stand to gain nothing financially by encouraging the country to be clear-eyed on what’s happening and how to respond.
In that vein, I share three actionable takeaways that I hope you will embrace and carry on in your own conversations with loved ones and friends, wherever you may live:
Measles causes far more than a rash; it kills, and often in unexpected ways, like through severe pneumonia. Yes, measles starts with flu-like symptoms and then progresses to a full body rash, but what generally causes the biggest problems is a very dangerous pneumonia. One in five unvaccinated people infected with measles experience it to such a degree that they need hospitalization. The tragic and avoidable loss of a child in West Texas recently was due to severe pneumonia complications. Make no mistakes, measles is extremely serious.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine strongly prevents measles from causing any medical problems, including severe complications like pneumonia. The MMR vaccine is one of the most comprehensively studied vaccines ever, and its safety and effectiveness profile has been repeatedly documented. The recommended two doses of the vaccine are 97 percent effective in preventing infection. There is exactly zero evidence of the vaccine causing autism or other serious side effects.
There is no specific cure or treatment for measles. However, absolutely do not wait to seek medical care to help relieve symptoms and address complications if you believe you or a loved one has been exposed to the virus. Time is of the essence, especially for pregnant women who may benefit from a treatment called immunoglobulin if they are unvaccinated and exposed. To be clear, vitamin A and/or other therapies do not treat measles in any way whatsoever.
Join Dr. Vin Gupta, a leading public health expert and pulmonologist; AFT President Randi Weingarten; and Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, for an interactive town hall discussion on the current measles outbreak and its impact on AFT members and the communities we serve.
Join Dr. Vin Gupta—pulmonologist, public health expert, and professor—for a yearlong series offering expert-led webinars, blogs, resources, and Q&A sessions on pressing health issues to help AFT members and communities stay informed and healthy. Access all on-demand town halls and register for the next one.
