Mehmet Oz Breaks with Trump Suggestion That MMR Vaccine Could Be 'Lethal'
Federal health authorities continue urging high immunization coverage amid declining childhood vaccination rates nationwide.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz rejected President Donald Trump's claim that the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine could be lethal. Speaking on CBS News Face the Nation, Oz stated the MMR vaccine is not lethal and is administered separately in other countries, such as Japan.
The president had suggested the combined shot could be lethal and recommended splitting it into three separate doses during an executive order signing ceremony. Oz emphasized that parents have a choice but rejected the lethal characterization. The CDC reported that approximately 92% of U.S. kindergarteners received the MMR vaccine prior to the prior school year, falling short of the 95% herd immunity threshold.
Health authorities urge high immunization coverage amid declining vaccination rates and a resurgence of measles cases. Despite calls for separate administration, no single-antigen MMR vaccines are currently available in the U.S., and manufacturers have no plans to produce them.
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