Republican US senator slams Trump vaccine policy amid rising measles deaths

US Senator Bill Cassidy presses Trump’s pick for surgeon general on views over vaccines, public health.Published On 16 Sep 202616 Sep 2026Republican Senator Bill Cassidy has blamed the Trump administration’s vaccination policies for an uptick in measles deaths in the United States, where the preventable disease had previously been all but eliminated.Cassidy, a doctor who chairs the Senate Health Committee and represents the US state of Louisiana, said on Wednesday that the government must appoint officials to key public health positions who will make decisions based on science rather than political ideology.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3A third person has died of measles in the US, health officials saylist 2 of 3WHO chief says Trump vaccine push goes against ‘decades of evidence’list 3 of 3Erica Schwartz confirmed as new CDC chief amid US agency turmoilend of list“To suffer from any disease is awful, but to suffer one which is avoidable, that’s even worse,” Cassidy said.The US is currently facing its most severe measles outbreak in more than 35 years, a development that scientists and public health experts attribute to increasing scepticism towards vaccinations that...