NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya says "I trust the science" on childhood vaccines amid measles outbreak - CBS News
Source: CBS News
NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya appeared on CBS News' 'Face the Nation' on Sunday, strongly endorsing childhood vaccines amid a measles outbreak that has reached its highest levels in 35 years. Bhattacharya stated, 'I trust the science,' and urged parents to vaccinate their children against measles and other preventable diseases. He confirmed that he has vaccinated his own children and emphasized that immunization is the most reliable way to protect kids from dangerous illnesses.
While advocating for vaccines, Bhattacharya also stressed that it is equally important for children to continue attending school. He warned against what he called 'fearmongering' — suggesting that telling parents their children might be exposed to unvaccinated peers is counterproductive. He argued this approach erodes public trust rather than building it. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, he said keeping children out of school was a 'tremendous mistake' that damaged confidence in public health institutions.
Bhattacharya highlighted that one of his first acts as acting CDC director in February was to publicly recommend vaccination during a measles outbreak in South Carolina. He credited that early and direct communication with helping to bring the outbreak under control. He also cited successful responses to outbreaks in Texas, Arizona, and Utah, arguing that targeted, community-focused interventions have proven effective in containing the spread of measles.
Despite these regional successes, the overall picture remains concerning. According to the CDC, only 10 states maintained measles vaccination coverage rates above the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity among kindergarteners during the 2024–2025 school year. New outbreaks in Virginia and Pennsylvania have emerged, though Bhattacharya noted that case numbers in Virginia are already declining. He emphasized the need to focus resources on the highest-risk communities.
When pressed about whether Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent pro-vaccine message on CNN could be amplified nationally, Bhattacharya said he has consistently delivered the same message himself. He acknowledged that rebuilding public trust in health guidance requires clear, calm, and consistent communication. He argued that the administration must avoid alarmist tactics while ensuring that the science-backed recommendation to vaccinate remains the central and unambiguous public health message.
Japanese translation
米国立衛生研究所（NIH）所長のジェイ・バッタチャリア博士は、日曜日にCBSニュースの番組「フェイス・ザ・ネーション」に出演し、はしかの感染者数が35年ぶりの高水準に達する中、小児向けワクチンを強く推奨した。博士は「科学を信頼する」と述べ、予防可能な疾患からわが子を守るために、親はワクチン接種を行うべきだと訴えた。自身の子どもにもワクチンを接種させたことを明かし、接種が最も確実な予防手段であると強調した。
博士はワクチン接種の推進と同時に、子どもたちが引き続き学校に通うことの重要性も強調した。「お子さんが接種していない子と接触するかもしれない」と親を不安にさせるような「恐怖の煽り」は逆効果であり、公衆衛生機関への信頼を損なうと指摘した。また新型コロナ禍での休校措置を「大きな誤り」と批判し、それが公衆衛生機関に対する不信感を招いたと論じた。
博士は2月にCDC長官代行に就任して最初の対応として、サウスカロライナ州でのはしか集団発生時にカメラの前でワクチン接種を公に勧めたことを振り返った。この早期かつ明確なメッセージが感染拡大の収束に貢献したと評価した。さらにテキサス州、アリゾナ州、ユタ州での集団発生についても、地域に焦点を絞った対策が有効に機能したと述べた。
しかし全体的な状況は依然として懸念される。CDCによると、2024〜2025年度において、幼稚園児のはしかワクチン接種率が集団免疫に必要な95%を超えた州はわずか10州にとどまった。バージニア州やペンシルベニア州でも新たな集団発生が確認されているが、バージニア州では感染者数がすでに減少傾向にあると博士は述べ、最もリスクの高いコミュニティへの集中的な取り組みの必要性を訴えた。
保健福祉省のロバート・F・ケネディ・ジュニア長官がCNNで発したワクチン推奨メッセージを全国規模で広める取り組みについて問われると、博士は自身も同じメッセージを一貫して発信してきたと答えた。公衆衛生への信頼を取り戻すには、落ち着いた明確なコミュニケーションが不可欠であり、科学的根拠に基づくワクチン接種の推奨を揺るぎない公衆衛生上のメッセージとして発信し続けることが重要だと述べた。
Key vocabulary
- herd immunitynoun
A form of indirect protection from disease that occurs when a sufficient proportion of a population has become immune, thereby reducing the likelihood of infection for those who lack immunity.
和訳: 集団免疫
Achieving herd immunity requires a high percentage of the population to be vaccinated against a given disease.
- fearmongerverb
To spread fear or alarm about something, often in an exaggerated or irresponsible way to influence people's behavior or opinions.
和訳: 恐怖を煽る
Critics accused the politician of fearmongering when he described the proposed policy changes as an imminent threat to national security.
- erodeverb
To gradually weaken or destroy something, such as trust, confidence, or a physical structure, over time.
和訳: 損なう、蝕む
Repeated scandals have eroded public confidence in the financial institution.
- preventable diseasenoun
An illness that can be avoided through medical interventions such as vaccination, lifestyle changes, or public health measures.
和訳: 予防可能な疾患
Global health organizations continue to work toward eliminating preventable diseases through widespread immunization campaigns.
- immunizationnoun
The process by which a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine.
和訳: 免疫化、予防接種
The government launched a nationwide immunization drive to protect children against polio.
- counterproductiveadjective
Having the opposite of the desired or intended effect; producing results that work against one's goals.
和訳: 逆効果の
Imposing overly strict regulations on small businesses can be counterproductive if it stifles growth and innovation.
- targeted interventionphrase
A focused strategy or action directed at a specific group, community, or problem in order to achieve a particular outcome more efficiently.
和訳: 的を絞った介入策
Targeted interventions aimed at high-risk neighborhoods helped reduce the spread of tuberculosis more effectively than citywide measures.
- amplifyverb
To make something stronger, louder, or more widespread; in communication, to increase the reach or impact of a message.
和訳: 広める、増幅させる
Social media platforms can amplify public health messages rapidly, but they can also spread misinformation just as quickly.