One Thing: How Vaccine Opt-Outs Could Put Classrooms at Risk
Summary
Amidst a growing measles outbreak and record vaccine opt-outs among U.S. kindergartners, this episode explores the challenges faced by public health officials. Dallas County Health Director Dr. Philip Huang discusses how new state laws are easing vaccine exemptions and how federal funding cuts under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are hampering efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, raising concerns about future outbreaks.Episode description
As schools start to reopen across the country, new CDC data shows that a record share of US kindergartners missed required vaccinations last school year. It comes as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to downplay vaccine efficacy and slash funding for research and development. We hear from a county health administrator in Texas who is concerned an ongoing measles outbreak could soon arrive on his doorstep.
Guest: Dr. Philip Huang, Dallas County Health & Human Services director
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Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Deirdre McPhillips, Jamie Gumbrecht
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