Oregon Senators Urge HHS Secretary Kennedy for National Measles Vaccination Campaign Following Deaths in Texas and New Mexico

Two Oregon senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, have issued an urgent call for the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to take decisive action against the resurgence of measles. Prompted by the recent deaths in Texas and New Mexico—the first U.S. fatalities from measles in a decade—they've demanded a robust national vaccination campaign. According to Senator Ron Wyden's Office press release, 223 people in 13 jurisdictions are infected.

"It is imperative that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) act immediately and robustly to stop the spread of this preventable infection and save American lives," the senators emphasized in a letter to Secretary Kennedy, per news press release. They pointed out the critical need to increase the vaccination rates and communicate the effectiveness of vaccines to rebuild trust and increase uptake, which would prevent further infections.

The legislators also advocate for reinstating public health workers who were indiscriminately dismissed during the Trump administration. Recognizing these individuals' significant role in managing outbreaks, Wyden and Merkley concluded, as detailed by Senator Ron Wyden's Office press release, "We urgently request that you reinstate all fired federal health workers and protect those remaining from termination to help stop the spread of measles and other infectious diseases." The urgency of their tone underscores the gravity of the situation at hand.