U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new vaccine advisory panel plans to revisit long-settled questions about childhood vaccines. On Wednesday, the new committee announced it would be looking into the childhood vaccine schedule and into specific shots like the hepatitis B and MMR-chickenpox combination. Pediatricians and scientists are expressing alarm. The American Academy of Pediatrics criticized the committee, calling its process "no longer credible." The panel also discussed COVID-19 vaccines and shots that protect infants from RSV.

The U.S. surpassed 1,000 measles cases Friday, even as Texas posted one of its lowest counts of newly confirmed cases since its large outbreak…

Three people have died from measles-related illnesses in the U.S. since the highly contagious virus started ripping through West Texas in late January. The U.S. has more than doubled the total number of measles cases in 2024. Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas and Oklahoma all have active measles outbreaks. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington.

Measles cases in West Texas are still rising two months after the outbreak began. Local public health officials say they expect the outbreak to last for at least several more months and the case number is likely an undercount. More people have received a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination this year in Texas and New Mexico compared to last year, though officials would like it to be higher. Pharmacies across the U.S., especially in Texas, are seeing more demand for MMR shots. University of North Carolina epidemiologist Justin Lessler says measles has a slow way of spreading that makes it especially hard to contain.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to a Steak 'n Shake in Florida this weekend for an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity to endorse the fast-food franchise's new fries. It's the type of recommendation that doctors and pediatricians have implored the new health secretary to make about vaccines. But many of his public statements and interviews have, instead, raised doubts about immunizations. Kennedy's first month in office has been dominated with high-profile resignations, a measles outbreak and — supporters point out — successes with reshaping Americans' diets by pressuring fast-food chains like Steak 'n Shake to cook with beef tallow, instead of cooking oils.