Vaccine policy and regulation stories

May 29, 2026

Republican senator Bill Cassidy blames Trump vaccine policy for measles deaths at confirmation hearing

Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican chair of the Senate health committee, blamed the Trump administration's vaccine-skeptical policies for recent measles deaths in Pennsylvania during a confirmation hearing for surgeon general nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier. Cassidy pressed Saphier to state that vaccines do not cause autism and to distance herself from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine positions, which she declined to fully do.

May 29, 20267 sources

Apr 30, 2026

HHS Appeals Court Ruling That Blocked Kennedy's Vaccine Policy Changes

The Department of Health and Human Services has filed an appeal against a court ruling that halted many of RFK Jr.'s vaccine policy changes, marking the latest development in the lawsuit filed by the American Association of Pediatrics.

Apr 30, 20261 source

Top claims

▪Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy blamed the Trump administration's vaccine-skeptical policies and misinformation for recent measles deaths in Pennsylvania during a September 16, 2026, confirmation hearing.
▪The CDC should maintain its universal recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine at birth
▪HHS deputy secretary nominee Chris Klomp defended the MMR vaccine as the single most effective public health tool against measles during his Senate confirmation hearings.

People involved

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Donald Trump

Subtopics

Government and Regulatory Policy2 Vaccine policy2 Childhood vaccine policy1 Childhood vaccine policy1 Childhood vaccine policy1 Childhood vaccine policy1 Healthcare Policy1 Infectious Disease and Outbreaks1 Measles outbreak1 Outbreaks and vaccination response1 Public health1 Senate confirmation hearing1 Trump administration policy1 Vaccine misinformation1 Vaccine safety and skepticism1

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