Pennsylvania Governor and HHS Secretary Clash Over Measles Death Reports

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said the recent announcement of two measles-associated deaths highlighted the "real-life consequences" of misinformation, criticizing statements from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the previous administration. Kennedy responded at a press conference in Tampa, questioning the accuracy of the deaths and suggesting the report might have been premature.

State health officials confirmed that the two deceased individuals, including an infant, were unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County and that laboratory testing or epidemiological links qualified the cases as measles-associated. The ultimate cause of death remains under investigation by the county coroner, who has not yet recorded any measles deaths.

Health Secretary Debra Bogen reiterated that the state had reported the two cases to the CDC’s measles response team and was in regular contact with federal officials. The CDC said Pennsylvania had declined offers of assistance and had not provided certain outbreak details, while the Pennsylvania Health Department disputed that claim, stating it shares weekly case data with the agency.

The disagreement follows a private phone call between Shapiro and Kennedy in which Shapiro criticized vaccine rhetoric and noted a recent executive order on childhood immunizations. Kennedy, who has previously expressed vaccine skepticism, affirmed that the measles vaccine remains the best preventive measure.

The outbreak, the largest in Pennsylvania since 1992, has produced more than 400 cases this year, according to state health data.