April 3, 2025 — “Here we are again, talking about a preventable public health crisis that is disrupting schools, straining health care systems and putting our most vulnerable at risk. And this one we thought we had solved decades ago,” said Randi Weingarten, president of AFT. “Measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. Today we’re seeing outbreaks in multiple states, and educators, school nurses and health care workers are once again left to pick up the pieces.”
Weingarten said misinformation and disinformation are rampant about vaccines and how the disease spreads. The webinar sought to educate listeners and emphasized facts over fear.
“Measles is not just a school issue,” she said. “It’s a public health issue. It’s a workforce issue. It’s a community issue. It’s all of our issues. Our members care for sick kids. They are really trying every single day to keep schools and hospitals safe and welcoming.”
Gupta explained the difference between measles and chicken pox, both of which present with rashes and both of which typically impact children, especially if they are not vaccinated.
“The key difference is that measles is highly contagious, and the sequence of symptoms is different,” he said. “Flu-like symptoms up to 7 to 14 days, then two to three days later, tiny white spots in the mouth. A day or two after that, red, round lesions start at the forehead and then go down the trunk and down to the extremities. Chicken pox presents on the belly and back.”
Vaccination is the best way to control outbreaks, Gupta said.
“There is no evidence at all that vaccines are unsafe or cause serious side effects,” he assured. “Common side effects are injection site reactions and muscle aches. There is no evidence of a link to autism. It has been repeatedly studied over the last 30 years. The answer is no, it’s wrong, it’s false.”
Hoffman concurred.
“The science is settled,” he said. “More research has been done on measles than any other vaccine in history. It’s unimpeachable and beyond question. It is the same degree of misinformation as somebody who believed in a flat earth. Anybody who is marketing misinformation around measles and autism, they are trying to convince you the earth is flat.”
The misinformation is prevalent and dangerous, with people self-medicating with cod liver oil and vitamin A. People aren’t seeking care because they are led to believe these alternatives are effective, Gupta said.
PEF Vice President Randi DiAntonio asked what people should do if they can’t find their records of vaccination. If you have a primary doctor, consult them, but if you don’t, Gupta shared a basic breakdown.
“If you were born before 1957, my advice is to just get a booster shot or if you want more data, get a measles titer assessment (an immunity test). Do it soon,” he said. “If you were born between 1957 and 1989, and you have no documentation of two shots, just get the measles shot. After 1989, there are usually no issues.”
You can view the webinar here. AFT plans additional webinars with Dr. Gupta focused on public health issues throughout the year.