Sen. Cassidy urges President to be transparent on vaccine safety amid rising measles cases

Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and physician, asked President Trump to be "radically honest" about vaccines during an interview on "Face the Nation." He warned that discouraging immunization could lead to more hospitalizations and deaths as the country experiences its largest measles outbreak in three decades.

Cassidy noted that the administration has recently encouraged measles vaccinations, but the president has questioned the safety of the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shot and suggested splitting it into separate doses. He said the president claimed, without evidence, that the combined vaccine could be lethal and that smaller, more frequent doses would reduce autism rates.

"If he discourages immunization, there'll be fewer people immunized, and if we're speaking of measles, there'll be more people sick in the hospital or even die," Cassidy said.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, asked the president to disclose the basis for his statements and the sources of his advice. He emphasized that the MMR vaccine has been proven safe and that the current schedule is designed for convenience.

"Have the president come forward — what is he basing this on? Who's giving him advice?" Cassidy asked.

Cassidy cited recent measles-related deaths, including a 40-year-old and an 18-year-old, and compared the spread of measles to the dangers of drunk driving, stressing the public health impact of unvaccinated individuals.

He also said the president’s nominee for FDA commissioner, Heidi Overton, must recognize that labeling the measles vaccine as lethal is unfounded, and he praised Surgeon General nominee Nicole Saphier for affirming vaccine safety.

Cassidy, who will leave office next year, urged a unified, factual message from the White House to help Americans understand that vaccines are safe and effective.