Hi, it's Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Here, your HHS secretary.

Earlier this week, Health and Human Services Secretary R. F. K. Junior made another big announcement about vaccines, specifically MRNA vaccines.

After reviewing the science and consulting top experts at NIH and FDA, HHS has determined that mRNA technology poses more risk than benefits for these respiratory viruses.

'MRNA stands for messenger RNA. It's a strand of the genetic code that basically carries the instructions for cells to make a certain type of protein. This MRNA technology was how scientists were able to develop a COVID-19 vaccine so quickly during the pandemic and experts say it has potential life-saving uses beyond vaccines. Well, R.F.K. Jr. Claims that these type of vaccines do not protect against upper respiratory infections like COVID or flu. And because of that, he said they were putting a stop to nearly two dozen active investments through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.

That's why after extensive review, BARDA has begun the process of terminating these 22 contracts totaling just under $500 million.

'Now, to be clear, there is ample evidence that mRNA vaccines do protect against severe disease and death from COVID-19, and they show promise against influenza. The Infectious Diseases Society of America says the move will prohibit scientific progress that will keep us healthy during future outbreaks and pandemics. And many critics say this is just the latest real-world impact of RFK Jr.'s dangerous anti-vaccine views, even as he insists his department has no such views.

Let me be absolutely clear. HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them. That's why we're moving beyond the limitations of mRNA for respiratory viruses and investing in better solutions. Thank you.

'Now this announcement comes as the largest measles outbreak this country has seen in decades continues. While reports of cases in hard-hit Texas appear to be slowing, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Wyoming have all reported new cases since last week, and there have been at least 89 confirmed cases across the country since July 1st. Remember, measles was declared eliminated in the United States a quarter century ago. Well, school is starting back up in many states, including Texas. Raising the risk of spread among unvaccinated children. And new data from the CDC showed that a record share of kindergartners missed required vaccinations last school year. So what will this school year bring? My guest today is Dr. Philip Huang. He's the director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department. We're gonna talk about why a new state law is making vaccine exemptions easier to get and how federal funding cuts have hamstrung his efforts to convince hesitant Texans. From CNN, this is One Thing. I'm David Rind. We're back in a bit.

As I understand it, the first day of school in Dallas is Tuesday, right? Yes, for most schools, that's the case. So I ask because as school gets underway, there was this recent data published by the CDC, which showed a record share of U.S. Kindergartners had an exemption for a required vaccination last school year and coverage for all reported vaccines, including measles, was lower than the year before. What are you seeing in Dallas County?

Well, you know, we're seeing some of those similar trends, very concerning, you know, especially in Texas, where we've had this measles outbreak out in West Texas. So sort of two trends that are not in the right direction.

Well, could we step back a bit? What is the reasoning behind vaccine requirements for children who are entering elementary school in the first place?

'Well, you know, I mean, these vaccines are, you know, really life-saving, and it's the reason that for so many vaccine preventable diseases, we've, you know, actually essentially eliminated them. You know, measles was declared eliminated in the United States in the year 2000 because of the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. And so requiring them as part of, you know, entry into school is one of the best strategies to get. The vaccination rates up to where they need to be for that, what we call herd immunity, you know, where enough people are protected and it protects everyone and really slows down spread.

Well, so according to CDC data, vaccine exemptions in Texas have gone past 4%, which is well above the national rate. And starting in September, thanks to a new state law, folks will be able to print the affidavit form needed to file for an exemption straight from the State Health Department website without having to file a written request for one. So I guess because of that, do you expect to see more exemption requests this year?

Yes, that that call that was passed was very disconcerting. And there was a lot of testimony against it. And still, the legislature and was signed into law. And it makes it easier to get these exemptions, which is exactly the direction we

don't want to go. What do you think is behind the increased exemptions? Like, why are people rushing to take advantage of this?

Well, you know, there's what we've seen since COVID, you know, is sort of more of this hesitancy about vaccinations, a lot of misinformation, disinformation, the politicization of vaccinations. And you know now more recently, even you know mixed messages coming from the top from the head of Health and Human Services Department regarding the effectiveness and safety of these vaccines.

So you're talking about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., because he's kind of used this line that vaccination is a personal decision, parents should consult their health care providers. What do you say to parents who might say it's a personal decision and I have this objection to getting my kid vaccinated?

You know, I truly believe that the parents, you know, want what's best for their children, as do the physicians and all of us. I mean, I think you have to have empathy for the position and the confusion that the parents are seeing, but be able to explain that there's a lot of bad misinformation out there and, you, know, try to work with them to see that really getting the vaccine is what's for their children.

'I should say there is a medical exemption that parents can get. And obviously if a doctor says someone should be exempt from vaccines for one reason or another, that is one thing. But in light of the declining vaccine rates and the measles outbreak that your state has been dealing with, do you think students should be allowed to get non-medical exemptions?

Well, as you point out, there are some very legitimate medical exemptions. And that's exactly why it's so important that everyone else be vaccinated, because that's where you get that herd immunity. For measles, it requires like 95% of people being fully vaccinated. And then that protects those people who can't get the vaccine, because they've got these medical exemption. So that's why, again, these policies we're requiring. You know, vaccines for school entry and things are so important and have been developed because to take advantage of these safe and effective vaccines and to protect these people who can't take.

'The non-medical exemptions, is that something that should even exist, I guess, if you're saying that this herd immunity is so important and that the medical exemption part of it is a much smaller piece of the pie.

Well, you know, again, from a purely public health and medical standpoint, certainly that's what would be recommended and what we would recommend. Now, you now, these are politicians who are passing these laws. And you know again, there may be some other religious beliefs, true religious beliefs. That's why we have these exemptions in some cases. But again, really to protect the public, they should not be allowed.

What kind of questions about vaccines are you hearing from parents, especially since President Donald Trump took office again and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Was installed in charge of HHS? Like, what are they asking about vaccines?

Well, you know, I mean, I, I mean, during COVID, there were a lot of crazy things going around that were, there are chips being implanted in people and, you know, government was trying to track them down and then, you know, there's also this, uh, misinformation and, and incorrect information like that, uh, links the, you know, MMR vaccine to autism. It was conducted by a physician that lost his license. The study was retracted. It was based on a very small number of subjects and it was that, you know, they've shown that the data was actually falsified and again, it's been retracted and then subsequent studies have shown that it doesn't cause autism.

How does it make you feel to have these conversations in the year 2025? Like, you've been doing this a long time. And like you said, Measles was declared eliminated a quarter century ago, and yet these conversations are still happening.

You know, some of it, and I always say, you know, we're, we're a victim of our own success with this. Most physicians, I've never seen a case of measles, you know, they, they they've never seen it because the vaccine is so effective and safe. And so then people then, and parents start to say, well, I don't see measles around anymore. Why do I still need to get these vaccines? But it's exactly because they're so effective and safe that they're, so important.

Yeah, so they may not have that familiarity with it and then they kind of get these messages right about parental autonomy and making the best decision for them. So as a public health official, how hard is it for you to transmit what's best for public health in the face of these demands for this personal choice?

Well, it does become more difficult and we face incorrect and misinformation and disinformation can be spread so easily through social media. But that's why, I mean, I think we try to be sensitive and we need to be about how to connect with the patients and the people and build those relationships, build that trust. And we have outreach workers that have been They're in the community doing a lot of different things and services and programs. And so the people out there have seen them for other efforts and so they have built that trust. But it's also been difficult with some of the funding uncertainties and things. We lost some funding that required us and we had to cancel over 50 of our community outreach vaccination events, including several that were set up with schools that had. We approach because they had low vaccination rates in the setting of this measles outbreak in West Texas.

Oh, so these were public facing installations for you, but because of federal funding cuts in Washington, you had to shut them down.

Yes, exactly. I mean, you know, that's where we're having to close some of our brick and mortar sites. We're doing that one day a week so we can do some more events in the community on the, you now, at least one day of week.

'Well, I imagine that just makes it a lot harder to find parents or just members of the community who may be on the fence about some of this stuff if they're not seeing it so much in their day-to-day life out and about. I imagine, that makes the job that much harder.

You know, I mean, we're very concerned about the impact that these cuts in staffing and things that CDC have had and some of these federal agencies. I mean these are the groups that we really depend on at the state and local level to provide a lot of expertise when we do have to deal with some of the situations, for instance, with the measles outbreak. You know, as I said, you know, most physicians. Haven't ever seen a measles outbreak or even a case of measles. And when you do encounter something like that, we depend on people like at the CDC who've been sent out to outbreaks, whether even when they are in the United States or even globally. So they have that experience, they know how to control these, they know all the different ways and aspects of trying to prevent further spread. And we are losing that. When we're losing all these federal workers at the CDC. I mean, literally some of these programs at CDC have been eliminated with some of the actions that have been going on and that's very scary.

I know the measles outbreak hasn't really touched your area and it appears the outbreak in general is slowing, but I guess are you confident that this will be a safe school year and that measles won't become an issue in your schools?

'Well, we're trying to do everything we can. You know, we continue to try to work with, I mean, we have data that's out there from the state health department regarding, you know, which schools have higher opt-out rates and then also have lower vaccination coverage rates. And so we've been trying to reach out to them. Again, we less resources to do that than we did because of these funding cuts, but that is so important again, to prevent these in particular pockets of populations that have low. Vaccination coverage.

And finally, just this week HHS announced it was slashing funding for mRNA vaccine development, canceled contracts for some active projects. So as a public health official, what's your reaction to a move like that?

No, I mean, that is very I mean it's frightening that that's happening. I even saw a statement from the former Surgeon General under President Trump during his first administration saying this is really a dangerous action. I mean these mRNA vaccines and that technology really allowed rapid development of vaccines in the situation with COVID and to shut down some of that development and technology. Will set us back decades.

Do you think those concerns by folks like Jerome Adams, the former Surgeon General, or just concerns that you have are making their way to the community? Like, I guess I'm wondering how powerful the messaging, or the mixed messaging, as you called it, from RFK Junior is as it relates to folks just trying to go about, live their lives, and put their kids in school.

Well, you know, again, it's very disappointing, and it was disappointing during COVID that these issues became politicized. I think that the larger public appreciates and understands the vaccine's work. I mean, that's why still the coverage is, you know, over 90 percent, but we're below that 95 percent threshold. So it's a smaller number of people that we're talking about, but still that small number can make a dramatic impact on the spread of... You know, these diseases in our community.

Well, Dr. Huang, thanks so much for the perspective. I appreciate it.

Sure, thank you.

'On Friday evening, police in Atlanta say a gunman opened fire on CDC headquarters, spraying the office windows with dozens of bullets. While no employees or civilians were hurt, a police officer was killed while responding to the incident. He leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children. The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, who was later found dead in a CVS store right across the street. And while authorities are still investigating a motive... A law enforcement official told CNN that police are operating under the hypothesis that he was either sick or believed that he was sick and blamed the illness on the COVID-19 vaccine. A select group of CDC employees later told leadership they felt like sitting ducks. That's it for us today. We'll be back on Wednesday. I'll talk to you then.