Back in the 1950s, I was a young child. I suffered from the usual maladies of youth, but the one that I remember most clearly was the Measles.
All I remember is having a rash over my body, and our family doctor, Dr. Charles Solomon, aka Doc Solly, treated me for it. It remember being violently sick for days and he managed to get me through it.
After that, I had taken vaccines before entering school, and while they were not pleasant, I was told that it was to prevent serious diseases from taking over, just like Measles did.
Then the vaccine came into play.
The vaccines of the 1960s
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the Measles vaccine was developed in the 60s and was followed by another vaccine that helped against two other diseases,
In 1963, the measles vaccine was developed, and by the late 1960s, vaccines were also available to protect against mumps (1967) and rubella (1969). These three vaccines were combined into the MMR vaccine by Dr. Maurice Hilleman in 1971.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025
I never had the mumps, but they were apparently no fun either.
My parents never questioned the vaccines. They saw that had happened to us with Measles, and that convinced them that vaccines would be preferable.
By the 21st Century, the Measles vaccine had eliminated the disease in the U.S. However, the anti-vaxxers have succeeded in allowing it to return.
The worst outbreak in more than 30 years has overtaken the country. It has alarmed many parents in the country as well as health officials.
Kennedy pushing unproven remedies
An anti-vaxxer was appointed to lead the Health and Human Services Department by the new president. Robert Kennedy Jr. is the man, and he is already pushing some unproven remedies to take the place of the Measles vaccine.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly was in contact with a Texas historian who helped support the distribution of unproven measles remedies amid an outbreak in the state.
Texas historian Tina Siemens told Mother Jones [magazine] that Kennedy contacted her last week to discuss health concerns in the Mennonite community.
"Siemens said she had been working with a clinic called Veritas Wellness in Lubbock, Texas, to distribute medications, including Vitamin C, cod liver oil, and the inhaled steroid budesonide," the magazine reported.
“RFK Jr. holds call with Texans…” Raw Story, March 10, 2025
Kennedy, whose appointment was opposed by most health organizations, is trying to play both sides of the issue.
On March 2, Kennedy penned an op-ed for Fox News in which he appeared to endorse the measles vaccines, writing that the shots “not only protect individual children from measles but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons.”
Yet in an interview last week, Kennedy claimed, without citing research, that treating measles with steroids, antibiotics, and cod liver oil yielded “very, very good results.” Cod liver oil contains Vitamin A, which is often used in much higher concentrations to prevent complications from the disease, including blindness. There is no credible evidence that cod liver oil itself can treat or prevent measles.
Kiera Butler, “RFK Jr. Reportedly Had a Call With Texans … ” Mother Jones, March 10, 2025
Severe complications in children and adults
According to the CDC,
Some people may suffer from severe complications, such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). They may need to be hospitalized and could die.
Hospitalization. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized.
Pneumonia. As many as 1 out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
Encephalitis. About 1 child out of every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain). This can lead to convulsions and leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.
Death. Nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
Complications during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have not had the MMR vaccine, measles may cause birth prematurely, or have a low-birth-weight baby.
Centers for Disease Control, 2025
Vaccines work. I took all of the Covid and did not get the disease, and while that is not 100 percent, I will stand by them.