this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2026
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The U.S. is in the grips of a historic measles surge, with more than 3,000 measles cases reported in 45 states across the country since the start of 2025. So far, two unvaccinated children have died from the disease. At least 920 people have been infected in South Carolina, and a similar number in Texas. In both states, nearly all infected individuals were unvaccinated.

Now Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is urging Americans to get the measles vaccine as the country is on the brink of losing its measles elimination status.

“Take the vaccine, please. We have a solution for our problem,” Oz said on CNN’s State of Union on Sunday. “Not all illnesses are equally dangerous, and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses. But measles is one you should get your vaccine [for],” Oz said.

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[–] Assassassin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 65 points 4 days ago (1 children)

"oh no, my actions are resulting in predictable consequences"

[–] Quexotic@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Too few consequences. He should be in prison for those his rhetoric has killed.

[–] st3ph3n@midwest.social 42 points 4 days ago

This dickhead platformed antivaxers for years.

[–] Bonesince1997@lemmy.world 43 points 4 days ago

These people are a combination of mentally ill and evil to be giving out conflicting information at their whim.

[–] DickFiasco@sh.itjust.works 28 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Not surprising to see Oz and RFK jr do a 180 on vaccines now that there's a blossoming pandemic. The anti-vax movement was never really about the vaccines, it's just another distract and divide tactic.

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The 20th century antivax movement started, as all things do, as a grift.

not-a-doctor Andrew Wakefield falsified evidence and commited fraud to make people believe the MMR vaccine was dangerous. Not because he was against vaccines in general, but because he got a fuckload of money from a company that sold seperate vaccines who didn't like the fact that a combination vaccine was costing them a lot of money.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

He actually made his money from a NY law firm who wanted to sue vaccine makers but couldn't find any evidence against them in the US, so they paid Wakefield to fake data.

This is why scientific fraud is illegal in many countries and could land jail time. Not the US or UK.

[–] QueenHawlSera@sh.itjust.works 17 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Why did they come out against vaccines in the first place, if they were just going to shit themselves the second the obvious consequences showed up.

[–] piccolo@sh.itjust.works 16 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Because they wanted to grift, but then found out the consequences will kill off their customers.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

But when RFK killed 83 kids in Samoa, he continued in the US.
Samoa only has 230,000 people, so this round of measles deaths in the US could hit over 1400 dead. Many more blinded, or with brain damage.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Why did they come out against vaccines in the first place

RFK Jr was getting $250,000/yr as "consultant" to anti vax simps.

Meh Oz had all kinds of side hustles with magic berries, herbs and colored feathers. Columbia turfed him for good reasons.

[–] QueenHawlSera@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

What does "Columbia turfed him" mean?

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Columbia University Medical Center in NY fired him.

‘He’s been a huge danger to public health,’

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/01/dr-oz-dropped-by-columbia-amid-pro-trump-republican-senate-run-report

  • a group of distinguished physicians wrote to Columbia, claiming Oz had “repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine” and shown “outrageous conflicts of interest or flawed judgements about what constitutes appropriate medical treatments, or both”.*

“Worst of all,” the letter continued, “he has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain.”

Between platforming Chopra, Phil, and Oz, why did Oprah have such a hard-on for psuedoscientists.

[–] aramis87@fedia.io 25 points 4 days ago (3 children)

In the US:

  • If you were born before 1957, you're presumed immune to measles.

  • If you were vaccinated before 1967, you should get a booster [the original vaccine wasn't as effective as the later vaccine].

  • If you were vaccinated between 1967 and 1989, you should consider a booster shot [they thought you only needed one shot, but you actually need two].

  • If you were vaccinated after 1989, you are presumed immune.

[–] MrQuallzin@lemmy.world 11 points 4 days ago (1 children)

And for anyone unsure, clinics can do titer tests (I think that's the right term) to see your immunity status (via blood draw)

[–] everett@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 days ago

titer tests (I think that's the right term)

Right term! You may find out your single-dose vaccine is still good enough.

Fuck it my wife is in education we can get revaxxed

[–] Triasha@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

I was tested for antibodies, and they found I did not need a booster.

[–] totesmygoat@piefed.ca 26 points 4 days ago (1 children)

But rfk said I'd get autism. And like that's worse. Right?

[–] TacoSocks@infosec.pub 0 points 3 days ago

When you put it that way it's like they are saying "I'd rather be dead than autistic".

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 days ago

"The worst person you know just made a good point."

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Clearly They has gotten to him and he can no longer be trusted.

[–] ThePantser@sh.itjust.works 15 points 4 days ago

Oz is woke y'all! String him up!

[–] Enkrod@feddit.org 16 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I'd be in favour of reich-wingers not being vaccinated, when their stupidity only came with a darwin-award for themselves, but they*re putting everyone around them, including their kids in danger.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Member the Herman Cain awards? Good times.

[–] nymnympseudonym@piefed.social 2 points 3 days ago

I still proudly wear the T-shirt

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 days ago

I'm totally fine with hundreds or thousands of dead antivaxxers. That's their choice, and they're adults who are free to be morons.

Unfortunately it also means dozens of dead not-yet-vaccinated babies and a dozens of vaccinated people.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Pretty sure this is what they all thought “Killing In The Name Of” was about.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 3 points 3 days ago

The amount of people that do not understand the line

Some of those that work forces,

Are the same that burn crosses

Is incredibly high.

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 4 points 3 days ago

Stop getting sick?, not yet guys!

[–] aramis87@fedia.io 4 points 4 days ago

sigh. It's a shame that this is appropriately posted in the politics community. I miss the time where this wouldn't have been appropriate in a political community ....