FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Contact: Gena Madow, gmadow@communitycatalyst.org  

This outbreak is more than a public health crisis—it’s the result of disinvestment, misinformation, and bogus vaccine exemption policies disguised as ‘personal choice.’  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The recent measles outbreak in Texas, which led to the first preventable measles-related death in decades, exposes systemic failures in public health infrastructure. Political barriers, vaccine exemption policies, disinvestment, and misinformation have eroded protections, putting lives at risk—especially in historically excluded communities, including rural populations, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Pacific Islander communities.

“This outbreak is more than a public health crisis—it’s the direct result of disinvestment, misinformation, and bogus vaccine exemption policies disguised as ‘personal choice,’ which embolden anti-vaxx rhetoric and put communities at risk,” said Sheree H. Keitt, Director of Public Health Strategy and Programs at Community Catalyst. “We cannot stand by while preventable diseases and deaths resurge.”

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence proving vaccines’ effectiveness, misinformation—often amplified by public figures—continues to undermine public health efforts. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s long-standing promotion of vaccine skepticism, along with his moves to weaken immunization policies, threatens decades of progress in disease prevention. His proposals to eliminate the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and limit public comment under the Administrative Procedure Act could lead to the resurgence of previously eradicated diseases like measles.

“It is unacceptable that children in the U.S. are dying from measles—a disease once declared eliminated through childhood immunizations,” said Brandon G. Wilson, Co-Interim President & CEO of Community Catalyst. “Historically excluded communities have never lacked solutions—only access. That’s why programs that put the ‘public’ at the center of public health, are more critical than ever.” 

Community Catalyst’s long-standing partnerships with community-based organizations, leaders, and local health providers—including efforts to address vaccine hesitancy and increase uptake in systemically excluded communities—are more critical than ever.  

This month, Community Catalyst’s Community-First Public Health will co-host a listening session in San Antonio with parents and caregivers to learn more about parental perceptions of the trust and safety of child vaccination. The upcoming San Antonio listening session represents a critical component of our broader efforts to: 

  • Directly involve community members in public health decision-making
  • Counter misinformation
  • Advance policy strategies for a stronger, more equitable public health system 

By engaging directly with communities, providing technical assistance, and equipping local leaders with communications resources, Community Catalyst is working to combat misinformation and reinvest in public health strategies that restore vaccine confidence.

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