Republican lawmakers are split on how seriously they should be taking the measles outbreak spreading across the country, but they’re in agreement that their message should include talking up the Trump administration’s response.
Led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Trump administration has downplayed the escalating issue. At least one person has died and more than 480 people have been infected across 19 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kennedy has drawn criticism in recent weeks for minimizing the severity of measles. He called the outbreak “not unusual,” despite the U.S. declaring in 2000 that the disease had been eliminated, and he’s also promoted less-effective treatments as alternatives to getting vaccinated.
“If your question is, do I think the administration is doing a good job with it? Yeah, they are,” said Sen. Josh Hawley after being asked what the Republican message on measles should be. “I think they’re saying to take every precaution you can. Obviously don’t want to see it spread.”
He had an additional piece of advice for people at home: “Get vaccinated and see your healthcare professional, do everything you can to stop it.”
The vast majority of cases are in unvaccinated people or people with unknown vaccination status. Still, other lawmakers were hesitant to encourage vaccines and struck a note similar to Kennedy.
“Measles? I’m against them,” said Sen. John Kennedy. He said his message to his constituents would be, “First of all, it’s your body. If you don’t want to take a vaccine, don’t take a vaccine. Follow your heart. Take your brain with you. Make sure you’re educated.”
But he added that he personally had the efficacy of his measles vaccine checked, and said he would have gotten a booster if he needed one.
In an interview with Fox News earlier this month, Secretary Kennedy downplayed the effectiveness of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
“When you and I were kids, everybody got measles, and measles gave you … lifetime protection against measles infection. The vaccine doesn’t do that. The vaccine is effective for some people for life, but for many people it wanes,” Kennedy said.
Other lawmakers like Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma echoed Kennedy’s point that getting vaccinated is a personal decision, pointing to some of his state’s religious communities.
“That’s obviously a faith-based issue we’re to continue to be able to respect,” Lankford told NOTUS. “But incredibly difficult for those communities, and I continue to encourage people to be able to get the vaccinations.”
Secretary Kennedy has equivocated on the subject of vaccines in a similar way.
“All parents should consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine,” Kennedy wrote in a Fox News op-ed on March 2. “The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons.”
Other Republicans also jumped at the opportunity to praise the administration’s work on this issue so far, and specifically touted what Kennedy has been doing.
“The best I can tell, he’s deployed resources. He’s made clear, I think, that vaccinating children, especially against measles, is a good idea. It was almost extinct,” Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a state with over 200 measles cases this year, said. Cornyn added he thinks Kennedy is “taking it seriously.”
Lawmakers from Oklahoma, a state where 10 people have been infected by measles this year, say the disease isn’t top-of-mind.
“Look, I haven’t thought a lot about that,” Rep. Tom Cole said when asked about how Republicans should be talking about measles. “I’m for the vaccines and for being aggressive in this front, but beyond that, we’ll wait and see.”
Measles is starting to hit closer to home for some lawmakers.
Rep. Kevin Hern said he knew of one case in his district, but he said he talked with “the health department folks,” and affected families are “doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”
“Nine out of 4 million. I don’t know if that’s a big outbreak yet, but everybody has their opinion about whether they want to get a vaccination or not,” Hern said. “We’ll see where this goes. It’s been going on for about three weeks, so nine in three weeks, you know? Hey, stuff happens.”
Sen. Markwayne Mullin has spent weeks saying he’s “absolutely” satisfied with HHS’s response, even as the number of cases in Oklahoma climbs.
“I think Bobby’s handling it good. I think Trump’s team is handling it good. I think they got a good handle on it,” Mullin said.
Compared to their Republican colleagues, Democratic senators have been much more critical of Kennedy’s handling of the outbreak.
“I sure wish they’d be more concerned about the spread of measles,” Sen. Ron Wyden told NOTUS on Thursday. “I’ve been talking to a lot of people who are knowledgeable, and that’s what they’re worried about. They need to have people on it and they need to use best practices. I’m not sure either of them are being encouraged.”
Though Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico — a state with over 40 measles cases this year — questioned Mehmet Oz at a confirmation hearing for a position as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in mid-March, he said he had written to Kennedy about the measles outbreak and received no response.
“So, Mr. Secretary, if you’re watching today, respond to the damn letter,” Luján said. “People are dying.”
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Margaret Manto and Em Luetkemeyer are NOTUS reporters and Allbritton Journalism Institute fellows. Mark Alfred contributed reporting.
This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS and Oklahoma Watch.