It's disappointing to see this measles outbreak at a time in history when the best single defense against any virus — a vaccine — is widely available. Unfortunately, U.S. leaders, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have been spreading debunked information about vaccines. More must be done to provide accurate vaccination information and protect the nation's children.
With the measles outbreak currently under control, it is important to recognize that other public health concerns also deserve our attention. As far as vaccination rates, the growing medical freedom movement reflects legitimate concerns about personal autonomy and parental rights. Individual liberty and religious freedom must be protected because if individuals cannot make informed decisions about what is introduced into their own bodies, then the very essence of freedom is compromised.