Man Whose Blood Helped Develop Measles Vaccine Weighs in on Recent Outbreak
Ask students: What did Dr. Peebles and his team do with Edmonston's blood sample? How did the MMR vaccine affect deaths from measles?
A second child died from measles-related causes in Texas where an outbreak has infected at least 505. Until this year, the U.S. had no reported measles deaths in a decade. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former anti-vaccine advocate, now says the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles. Deema Zein spoke with someone who had a front-row seat to its creation.
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Key Term
measles — an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash on the skin, typically occurring in childhood
Discussion Questions
- When was the last time the U.S. reported a death from measles?
- Who is David Edmonston?
- What did Dr. Peebles and his team do with Edmonston's blood sample?
- How did the MMR vaccine affect deaths from measles?
- Why did Edmonston and his wife not vaccinate their son?
Focus Questions
Despite donating his blood to help develop the MMR vaccine, David Edmonston later became skeptical of the vaccine's efficacy and chose not to vaccinate his son. More recently, he has realized that vaccines are important and speaks out in their favor, hoping to help educate other Americans who may still have doubts.
- What do you think makes people distrust vaccines?
- Do you think that U.S. Secretary of Health and known vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaking in favor of the MMR vaccine will help convince Americans that vaccines are safe and necessary?
Media literacy: Who is someone else that you would like to see interviewed to discuss the science of vaccines?
Extension Activity
Watch the video below to learn how NIH funding cuts made by the Trump administration affect vaccine research, then answer the questions.
- What was Sophia Newcomer researching before her grant was canceled?
- Why were the studies affected by the NIH funding cuts important for public health?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
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