Cassidy: Trump’s handling of measles a ‘terrible legacy’

Cassidy: Trump’s handling of measles a “terrible legacy”

Senate Health Committee chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Wednesday called the Trump administration’s handling of measles outbreaks a “terrible legacy,” as he cited recent deaths in Pennsylvania.

“Misinformation and misguided policies are leaving children unprotected against diseases we know how to prevent,” Cassidy said during a hearing for three Department of Health and Human Services nominees.

The U.S. is in the midst of a massive measles outbreak this year, surpassing a 35-year record with months to go in the year. On Tuesday, Pennsylvania officials said four people had died from measles-associated complications.

“No one should be hospitalized, much less die. By the way, CDC apparently is working on the definition of death by measles,” said Cassidy. “Someone said we haven’t had to work on that for decades because no one has died from measles, and now we have people dying from measles. That’s going to be a terrible legacy for this administration.”

Cassidy pressed surgeon general nominee Nicole Saphier on whether she supports the MMR vaccine and told her not to equivocate .

“I believe the MMR vaccine is our greatest tool for combating measles,” Saphier said in response. When Cassidy asked her what she would tell a mom who asked if the MMR caused autism, she said, “I do not believe childhood vaccines cause autism”

Last month, the Trump administration issued an executive order to separate the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into separate doses. Cassidy, a physician who lost his primary bid for reelection, said the move would “increase hesitancy and make children less safe.”

Trump at the time said that the combined MMR vaccine could be “quite lethal,” without citing scientific evidence.

“It deeply concerns me to see politicians giving medical advice which has zero scientific backing,” Cassidy said.

“Scaring mothers into delaying or even altogether skipping their child’s vaccines is wrong and makes America sicker not healthier,” Cassidy said.

He expressed regret over having given previous nominees “wiggle room” about their vaccine beliefs, saying they had “later used that wiggle room to do things which were quite contrary.”

Welcome to The Hill’s Healthcare newsletter , we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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How policy will be impacting the healthcare sector this week and beyond:

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