Lena Sun

What South Carolina’s soaring measles outbreak means for the rest of the U.S. More than 840 measles infections have been reported in South Carolina, surpassing the tally in Texas last year. Public health experts say it shows the risks when vaccination coverage falls.

South Carolina is now experiencing the nation’s worst measles outbreak since the virus was declared eliminated a quarter century ago.

@lenasun.bsky.social and photographer Juan Diego Reyes show what’s happening on the ground wapo.st/4rttZRg

Atlanta, Memphis and Nashville are metro areas with vaccination rates below the needed 95 percent. Measles outbreaks in those areas would be “terrifying,” said Scott Thorpe, head of a nonprofit public health group focused on the South.

SC has already seeded cases in NC and Washington states. “We are losing decades of public health successes, and children will get very sick and die from preventable illnesses,” said Martha Edwards, head of AAP’s SC chapter.

What South Carolina’s soaring measles outbreak means for the rest of the U.S. More than 840 measles infections have been reported in South Carolina, surpassing the tally in Texas last year. Public health experts say it shows the risks when vaccination coverage falls.

NEW: South Carolina’s measles outbreak is country’s largest in more than 25 years. But its falling vaccination coverage + rising religious exemptions from school requirements don’t make it an outlier. My story. Gift link. 1/3
wapo.st/4rttZRg

Want to help? Renew your subscription -- and buy more for family and friends.

You may not agree with every op-ed The Post publishes, but our investigative journalism, breaking news reporting and other essential work cannot happen without subscribers.

Freeze of public health funds for states, then reversal, sows confusion A sense of whiplash spread across state public health agencies after the Trump administration paused $5 billion in federal spending, only to quickly say it would lift the pause on Saturday.

BREAKING: Sudden freeze of public health funds for states, then reversal, throws state and local health departments into confusion on eve of major snowstorm. Me + @Rachelroubein.Bsky.com
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Formal U.S. withdrawal from WHO is decried as ‘scientifically reckless’ Trump justified withdrawing from the health alliance formed in 1948 based on what he viewed as the “mishandling” of the coronavirus pandemic and a failure to adopt changes.

NEW: US formally exits WHO. U.S. officials say nation will remain a global leader in health, but through “existing and new engagements directly with other countries, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and faith-based entities.” My story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

CDC staff ‘blindsided’ as child vaccine schedule unilaterally overhauled The Trump administration took unprecedented steps to recommend fewer vaccines for children without extensive consultations with career scientists.

SCOOP: CDC vaccine experts were blindsided by RFKJr top deputy’s decision to unilaterally overhaul child schedule. Also, previously undisclosed CDC presentation refutes Trump admin narrative that US is outlier on vaccine policy. My story @Washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Our deep dive on RFKJr. Re the previously undisclosed email, former ACIP chair and longtime member says:
“The secretary is within his legal rights to make these suggestions or request requests, but it’s unheard of as far as I know.” gift link below. @washingtonpost.com

Inside RFK Jr.’s reshaping of public health in Trump’s first year Interviews with almost 100 people reveal how Kennedy, as health secretary, has reshaped the vaccine and broader public health infrastructure in less than a year.

The Post interviewed almost 100 sources for this comprehensive, revelatory account of how RFK Jr. has disrupted public health in America.

It's the capstone to a year of extensive reporting by @rachelroubein.bsky.social, @lenasun.bsky.social & @laurenweberhp.bsky.social.

Gift link: wapo.st/48YSPC1

Under RFK Jr., U.S. plans to stop recommending most vaccines, defer to doctors The plan, which is not finalized, suggests children get fewer shots and shifts to a model telling parents to consult doctors to make their own vaccine choices.

BREAKING: The U.S. is preparing to stop recommending most childhood vaccines and defer to doctors instead.

The plan, which is not finalized, marks a fundamental shift in the U.S. vaccine strategy, @lenasun.bsky.social & @rachelroubein.bsky.social report.

Gift link: wapo.st/4aXfzn5

Pediatricians said shifting to more restrictive type of recommendation will confuse doctors and patients. “ I have never been more concerned about the future of vaccines and children’s health than I am now,” said pediatrician David Higggins. 4/4

It is not immediately clear, which shots would no longer be routinely recommended. Plans are still in flux, the people said. 3/4

The plan would more closely align the US schedule with that of Denmark. It would also shift most vaccines to a more restrictive approach, known as shared clinical decision-making 2/4

U.S. plans to stop recommending most childhood vaccines, defer to doctors The plan, which is not finalized, suggests children get fewer shots and shifts to a model telling parents to consult doctors to make their own vaccine choices.

BREAKING: US. plans to stop recommending most childhood vaccines, defer to doctors, per sources familiar. HHS consulted w chief science officer and top FDA official. Me and @rachel_roubein
1/4
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

American Academy of Pediatrics loses HHS funding after criticizing RFK Jr. HHS cuts key AAP grants, citing concerns about “identity-based language” and insufficient focus on agency priorities. The organization said the cuts could harm child health.

SCOOP: American Academy of Pediatrics loses HHS funding after criticizing RFK Jr. Programs included work on reducing sudden infant deaths and identifying autism early. Me and @Paigecunningham.Bsky.Social
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

American Academy of Pediatrics loses HHS funding after criticizing RFK Jr. HHS cuts key AAP grants, citing concerns about “identity-based language” and insufficient focus on agency priorities. The organization said the cuts could harm child health.

SCOOP: American Academy of Pediatrics loses HHS funding after criticizing RFK Jr. Research included reducing sudden infant deaths and identifying autism early. Me and @Paigecunningham.Bsky.Social
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

CDC approves major child vaccine change, rejects controversial one The CDC formally approved a major change to the childhood immunization schedule by dropping the long-standing recommendation for all newborns to get a hepatitis B vaccine.

BREAKING: CDC approves major child vaccine change, rejects controversial one that RFKJr’s handpicked vaccine advisory panel had recommended. My story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Under RFK Jr., the CDC provides a megaphone to the anti-vaccine movement Common anti-vaccine talking points were on display as the CDC’s immunization advisers repealed a hepatitis B birth vaccine recommendation and scrutinized the childhood schedule.

For decades, the CDC has fought attempts by the anti-vaccine movement to sow doubts in the safety and efficacy of the shots that marked a triumph of public health.

This week, the agency instead provided a powerful platform www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

“It feels so frustrating and disheartening to watch science, public health and decades of a well-respected institution be dismantled,” said one CDC scientist. 5/5

CDC staff at one watch party said heated debates at the meeting were like a “Real Housewives of Atlanta” episode. 4/5

On Friday, Aaron Siri, an ally of RFKJr and lawyer for the anti-vaccine movement with no medical degree, delivered a scientific presentation to CDC’s vaccine advisers. 3/5

Two of the presenters at this week’s vaccine advisory panel meeting about the hepatitis B vaccine authored a retracted paper. 2/5

Under RFK Jr., the CDC provides a megaphone to the anti-vaccine movement Common anti-vaccine talking points were on display as the CDC’s immunization advisers repealed a hepatitis B birth vaccine recommendation and scrutinized the childhood schedule.

NEW: How the CDC has become a powerful platform for the anti-vaccine movement it once sought to fight. 1/5
Me, @davidovalle.bsky.social, @paigecunningham.bsky.social
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

During the Friday discussion, Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who was recently named as the panel’s new chair, was overheard telling another panel member that he wanted to talk to “some of the higher-ups” about the panel’s work. “You know, I feel like, you know, it’s, sort of like we feel like a little bit like puppets on a string as opposed to really being an independent advisory panel,” according to a transcript of the exchange captured by videoconferencing software and obtained by The Washington Post. Asked about those remarks, Milhoan wrote in a text message, “There are pressures from many organizations: federal, industry, medical organizations that are trying to influence by ad hominem attacks, when we are trying to look at and ask for data.”

!!!

The Post obtained hot mic comments by the chair of RFK Jr.'s CDC vaccine committee.

"We feel like a little bit like puppets on a string as opposed to really being an independent advisory panel" wapo.st/4atob4M

CDC panel makes most sweeping revision to child vaccine schedule under RFK Jr. The panel voted to eliminate a long-standing recommendation for every newborn to receive a hepatitis B shot, excluding those born to mothers testing negative.

BREAKING: CDC panel makes most sweeping revision to child vaccine schedule under RFK Jr. Our story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

RFK Jr.'s vaccine advisers plan biggest change yet to childhood schedule The new chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said the panel plans to vote to end universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth and to scrutinize if childhood shots cause allergies.

NEW: @lenasun.bsky.social spoke to the new chairman of the federal vaccine advisory panel remade under RFK Jr.

They are planning to vote to end universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth and to scrutinize whether childhood shots are causing autoimmune disorders.
wapo.st/3XrsKoD

RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisers plan biggest change yet to childhood schedule The new chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said the panel plans to vote to end universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth and to scrutinize if childhood shots cause allergies.

NEW: In an interview w/ me, new chair of ACIP says they are planning to vote on ending practice of vaccinating all newborns for hepatitis B and to examine whether childhood immunization schedule is behind rise of allergies and autoimmune disorders.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

New leader tapped for CDC had stopped pushing vaccines amid flu surge Ralph Abraham, a Louisiana health official who stopped promoting mass vaccination vaccines, has been appointed as the CDC's principal deputy director

BREAKING: Louisiana health official who ordered his health department to stop promoting mass vaccinations during a surge in flu cases this winter has been tapped to be the new number 2 at @CDCgov. My story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

The National Academies statement says: “…based on our body of work on this topic and the overwhelming scientific consensus, we support the statement that vaccines do not cause autism.” 2/2