Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, is pressing the Trump administration to do more to promote measles vaccinations as the country faces its worst outbreak in decades.
In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Cassidy stressed the importance of immunization, both for individual protection and for the broader public health. "My concern as a physician is that everyone should be vaccinated for measles," he said. "And you may think it only affects me. That's not true because you infect other people."
Cassidy, a physician by training, underscored the communal benefit of vaccination: "If I'm not protected, but you are, then I'm not exposed. I'm all about asking people to be immunized for yourself and for others."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Friday that measles cases in the United States have exceeded 4,000 this year, with nearly all linked to known outbreaks. That marks a sharp increase from the 2,289 cases recorded in all of 2025. About 95% of those infected this year were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
During his appearance, Cassidy urged Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the CDC to intensify their vaccination advocacy. While Kennedy has previously promoted vaccine skepticism, Cassidy acknowledged that the secretary has encouraged immunization but argued that the department should be more aggressive in boosting vaccination rates.
"I have seen people die from vaccine-preventable diseases. You get vaccinated, you don't die. You're not vaccinated, you do die," Cassidy said.
Earlier this week, Pennsylvania officials confirmed a sixth death linked to a measles infection. The state has recorded more than 1,100 cases this year, its largest outbreak in decades, fueling a public dispute between Kennedy and Governor Josh Shapiro (D) over the true death toll.
Cassidy's criticism is not new. Earlier this year, during a hearing for three HHS nominees, he called the administration's handling of the measles outbreak a "terrible legacy," referencing the fatalities in Pennsylvania.
The senator's remarks come as the administration faces scrutiny over its public health messaging. While Kennedy has publicly encouraged vaccination, critics argue that his past statements and the administration's mixed signals have undermined trust in vaccines. Cassidy's push reflects growing concern among some Republicans about the administration's response to the outbreak.
As the measles crisis continues to unfold, Cassidy's call for a more robust federal response highlights the tension between public health imperatives and the political realities of the Trump administration's approach to vaccination policy.
