24 City Health Chiefs Take on the Feds Over Rising Measles and Polio Threats: “Get Vaccinated!”

As measles outbreaks pop up across the country and trust in federal health agencies continues to slip, the Big Cities Health Coalition has stepped in with a bold message: “Get vaccinated.”

In a letter signed by public health officials from two dozen major U.S. cities, the group condemned misinformation coming from Washington and criticized recent changes to vaccine guidance that could limit access. “We are deeply troubled by the repeated false claims about vaccines from too many federal officials,” they wrote.

The criticism follows false statements about vaccines made by Donald Trump and a CDC decision to pull back on recommending the combined MMRV vaccine for young children.

Dr. Phil Huang of Dallas said public health decisions should rely on science, not politics.

“We have to be the voices for that science and reason,” he emphasized.

The CDC’s credibility has taken a hit. A new poll shows only half of U.S. adults trust the agency’s vaccine guidance. Meanwhile, over 100 unvaccinated students in South Carolina are quarantined after a measles exposure.

Dr. Raynard Washington of Mecklenburg County pointed out the need for unity: “Our local public health system is only as strong as the weakest county or jurisdiction.”