Story perspectives

NIH Director Blames Biden Censorship, Warns Measles Surge

8/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said Biden censorship eroded public trust in health officials.
He said he vaccinated his children and urged parents to vaccinate kids against measles and routine shots.
He noted measles cases are at decades-high, with only 10 states meeting the 95% kindergarten threshold for 2024-2025.
CBS host Margaret Brennan challenged his claims, citing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “deadliest vaccine” remark and the network’s COVID coverage.

History

Historical Context

In 1998 Andrew Wakefield published a fraudulent Lancet paper on 12 children linking MMR to autism, prompting a press conference that sparked a drop in MMR uptake (UK fell to ~80%). Subsequent studies disproved the claim, yet the scare helped fuel measles resurgences, evident in the 2025 U.S. outbreaks and renewed criticism from NIH director Jay Bhattacharya and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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Story summary

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said Biden censorship eroded public trust in health officials.
He said he vaccinated his children and urged parents to vaccinate kids against measles and routine shots.
He noted measles cases are at decades-high, with only 10 states meeting the 95% kindergarten threshold for 2024-2025.
CBS host Margaret Brennan challenged his claims, citing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “deadliest vaccine” remark and the network’s COVID coverage.

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