Podcast Summary: The NPR Politics Podcast – Measles Returns — Here's What You Need To Know

Release Date: March 10, 2025
Host: Susan Davis
Guests: Maria Godoy (NPR Health Correspondent), Domenico Montanaro (Senior Political Editor and Correspondent)

Introduction

In the March 10, 2025 episode of The NPR Politics Podcast, host Susan Davis delves into the resurgence of measles in the United States, focusing on the recent outbreak in West Texas and its broader national implications. Joined by health expert Maria Godoy and political correspondent Domenico Montanaro, the discussion bridges the intersection of public health and political dynamics influencing vaccine hesitancy.

Overview of the Measles Outbreak

Susan Davis opens the conversation by highlighting the ongoing measles outbreak centered in West Texas, with significant case numbers reported both locally and across state lines into New Mexico.

Maria Godoy provides a clinical backdrop, explaining the basics of measles:

“Measles is probably one of the most contagious diseases known to mankind. It's more contagious than Ebola, polio, chickenpox, you know, just about anything you can think of.”
[01:37]

She elaborates on measles' infectiousness, noting that in an unvaccinated population, one person can infect an average of 18 others, starkly contrasting it with the transmissibility of COVID-19.

Current Impact and Statistics

Focusing on the outbreak's reach, Maria details:

“In West Texas, it’s in several counties. The epicenter is Gaines County, with around 130 cases. In Texas total, there's about 198 cases. Right over the border in New Mexico, we just had a death in an unvaccinated adult last week. That's the second death in this outbreak. The first one was an unvaccinated child in Texas.”
[03:03]

This marks the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. since 2015, underscoring the severity of the current situation.

Historical Context and Rising Vaccine Hesitancy

Susan Davis questions whether this outbreak is part of a cyclical pattern or indicative of a deeper shift in public health trends. Maria Godoy responds by contextualizing:

“The last big outbreak we had in the US was in like 2018, 2019 in New York... We saw about 649 cases in that outbreak. But in this outbreak, we've seen the first two deaths in the US since 2015... What’s really changed is that we're seeing vaccination rates drop. And that's been happening for years, but it's a trend that accelerated during the COVID pandemic.”
[04:28]

Domenico Montanaro reinforces this by discussing findings from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on public opinion:

“Vaccine hesitancy was worst among younger adults, those with lower education, lower income... and those who believe in alternative forms of immunity or different kinds of treatments were also less likely to want to be vaccinated.”
[05:38]

He emphasizes the alarming acceleration of vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its long-term impact on public health initiatives like measles vaccination.

Political Influences and Administration Response

The discussion shifts to the political landscape, particularly during President Trump's administration. Susan Davis probes the administration's stance:

“RFK Jr. made headlines last week because he published an editorial in Fox News... he did say that people who are unvaccinated are more vulnerable to measles. But he didn't outright say, go get vaccinated. He called vaccination a personal choice...”
[06:47]

Maria Godoy clarifies the potential misconceptions arising from such statements:

“...vitamin A can absolutely not prevent measles. The concern is that some parents may be giving their kids vitamin A routinely long term to help protect against measles, which of course it can't...”
[08:40]

This nuanced explanation underscores the importance of clear public health messaging amidst political rhetoric that may inadvertently fuel vaccine skepticism.

Vaccination Efficacy and Recommendations

Addressing concerns about the measles vaccine, Maria Godoy provides reassurance on its effectiveness:

“One dose of the measles vaccine is 93% effective... Two doses is 97% effective. It's very safe... Your best defense against getting measles is vaccination.”
[09:25]

She advises individuals uncertain about their vaccination status to consult healthcare providers, emphasizing the minimal risk and high benefit of receiving the vaccine.

Political Ramifications and Misinformation

Domenico Montanaro explores the political fallout from vaccine misinformation:

“This is what's happened with the misinformation and disinformation that really sprung up during the pandemic... a big portion of the people who voted for Donald Trump...”
[12:57]

He references an exchange involving Senator Bill Cassidy and Jay Bhattacharya, a Trump administration nominee for the NIH, highlighting ongoing debates about vaccine safety:

"Jay Bhattacharya: '...I'm going to put precious, limited taxpayer dollars to this and not to addressing issues of obesity, heart disease, cancer.'”
[12:36]

This segment illustrates the persistent conflicts between scientific consensus and political narratives that undermine public health efforts.

Future Outlook and Public Health Measures

Concluding the discussion, Maria Godoy outlines the necessary steps to contain the outbreak:

“The way you contain a measles outbreak is you vaccinate people who are unvaccinated in terms of how big this could get. We wouldn't expect to see this go into the thousands of cases... But if vaccination rates continue to decline... we could see that again in five to ten years.”
[13:37]

She stresses the urgency of reversing the trend in vaccine hesitancy to prevent future public health crises.

Closing Remarks

Susan Davis wraps up the episode by thanking Maria Godoy for her insights, reinforcing the critical connection between public health policies and political actions in managing infectious disease outbreaks.

Conclusion

This episode of The NPR Politics Podcast meticulously unpacks the multifaceted crisis of measles resurgence in the United States. By intertwining expert health perspectives with political analysis, the discussion illuminates how declining vaccination rates—exacerbated by political discourse—pose significant threats to public health. The episode serves as a clarion call for reinvigorated vaccination campaigns and coherent public health strategies to avert future outbreaks.

Notable Quotes:

• Maria Godoy on measles' contagiousness:
  “Measles is probably one of the most contagious diseases known to mankind...”
  [01:37]

• Maria Godoy on current outbreak statistics:
  “Right over the border in New Mexico, we just had a death in an unvaccinated adult last week...”
  [03:03]

• Domenico Montanaro on vaccine hesitancy demographics:
  “Vaccine hesitancy was worst among younger adults, those with lower education, lower income...”
  [05:38]

• Susan Davis on political impact:
  “RFK Jr. made headlines last week because he published an editorial in Fox News...”
  [06:47]

• Maria Godoy on vaccine efficacy:
  “One dose of the measles vaccine is 93% effective... Two doses is 97% effective...”
  [09:25]

• Domenico Montanaro on misinformation effects:
  “This is what's happened with the misinformation and disinformation that really sprung up during the pandemic...”
  [12:57]

This summary is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the podcast episode for those who haven't had the opportunity to listen. For the full discussion and additional context, listeners are encouraged to tune into The NPR Politics Podcast.