Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
RFK Jr. Encourages Measles Vaccination As Cases Surpass Last Year's Numbers
The Guardian: RFK Jr Tells US Families To Vaccinate Children Against Measles Amid Outbreak
Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, on Sunday told American parents that they should get their children vaccinated against measles, as the surge in infections has reached numbers not seen in the past 35 years. Kennedy, a leading vaccination skeptic who has spent years amplifying misinformation about vaccines, including the shot that protects against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), made his call in the course of a contentious interview with CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday morning. (Pilkington, 8/2)
CIDRAP: US Adds 53 More Measles Cases To Its 2026 Total
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 53 new US measles cases this week, bringing the total for the year to 2,371 cases. All but 16 of the cases were locally acquired in 45 US jurisdictions, with the rest tied to international travel, the CDC said in its weekly update. There have been 37 new measles outbreaks reported this year, with 94% of cases associated with outbreaks (defined as three or more cases). (Dall, 7/31)
More about RFK Jr. and vaccines —
Politico: RFK Jr. Tells CNN Host That Constitutional Rights Take Priority Over Public Health
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed with CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday, launching attacks against Anthony Fauci and arguing that protecting constitutional rights must take priority during future public health crises. During an appearance on “State of the Union” that Bash herself described as “contentious,” Kennedy argued that Fauci, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during the Covid-19 pandemic, was to blame for the millions of Americans who were sickened or killed by the respiratory virus. (Daniels, 8/2)
The Hill: RFK Jr. Confirms Trump Wants Autism-Vaccine Probe
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Sunday said President Trump “certainly” wants him to investigate perceived links between autism and vaccines. Kennedy made the remark during a heated interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” when Bash asked if the Wall Street Journal was accurate in reporting that Trump wants Kennedy to “probe the link.” “He certainly does,” Kennedy said. (Mancini, 8/2)
The New York Times: U.S. Restores Some Vaccine And Health Aid To Unicef, Gavi And World Food Programme
Over the past two months, the United States has made financial commitments that hint at a limited return to global health and humanitarian assistance partnerships, after the abrupt severing of many of those relationships a year and a half ago. Last week, the State Department notified Congress that it would send $600 million to Gavi, the organization that helps low-income countries buy essential childhood immunizations, a year after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrew American support. It was the latest in a series of financial commitments from the U.S. government to international organizations, working on issues such as hunger and tuberculosis, totaling nearly $2 billion. (Nolen, 8/2)
On Dr. Anthony Fauci —
The Washington Post: The Intense Pressure Facing Fauci, As GOP Lawmakers Push For His Jailing
The 85-year-old doctor, once the head of the government’s covid response, now faces mounting congressional threats and legal risks. (Diamond, 8/2)
STLPR: Madison County Board Chairman Slusser Defends Fauci Hanging Post
Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser said Friday that a comment he made on Facebook calling for the “public hanging” of Dr. Anthony Fauci was “rhetorical hyperbole.” Slusser’s comments were posted in the replies to a post that appears to have since been deleted. Slusser, from his personal account, made the comment around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. (Bauer, 7/31)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘On Air’: Journalists Catch You Up On Fauci Hearing, Peptides, And Kids' Caffeine Consumption
Céline Gounder, KFF Health News’ editor-at-large for public health, discussed how children’s caffeine consumption is affecting their health on CBS News’ CBS Mornings on July 30. (8/1)
More news from Capitol Hill —
Stat: Senate Measure Would Block Trump Plan To Politicize Federal Grants
Senate leadership on Sunday released the text of a bipartisan government funding stopgap measure that would block the White House’s proposal to give political appointees control over federal research grants. (Wilkerson, 8/2)
AP: Senate Leaders Reach Short-Term Funding Deal To Avoid Shutdown
Key senators unveiled a short-term spending bill on Sunday that would keep federal agencies funded past the midterm elections and into early December as they look to avoid a government shutdown during the middle of campaign season. The Senate is likely to vote on the measure before leaving Washington at week’s end for its traditional August recess, a period that many lawmakers want to spend shoring up their reelection prospects rather than working in the nation’s capital. (Freking, 8/2)
AP: Kay Granger, First Republican Woman From Texas To Serve In The House, Has Died At Age 83
Kay Granger, the first Republican woman from Texas to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and who served for nearly three decades, died Sunday at the age of 83, her son J.D. Granger said. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on X that throughout her career, Granger “broke barriers for women in public service.” He added that she “was a dear friend who will be greatly missed.” (Stengle, 8/3)
