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On Thursday’s American Agenda, Dr. Drew Pinsky drove a point every patriotic parent should hear: vaccine research, not political theater, is the proven route to ending this measles surge. The facts behind his plea are grim — the U.S. is facing its worst measles year in decades and could even lose the hard-won elimination status if transmission continues into January.
This isn’t alarmism; it’s arithmetic. The CDC and public health reports show well over a thousand confirmed cases this year, and the overwhelming majority of those sickened were unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status — the predictable consequence when communities let immunity fall. We cannot let ideological grandstanding or complacency be the reason children lose the basic protection science delivers.
Dr. Drew’s call for more vaccine research is exactly the sort of pragmatic, science-forward solution conservatives should champion — tough on disease, respectful of families, and clear-eyed about results. Decades of evidence show the MMR vaccine works; doubling down on research and better delivery systems will keep parents confident and kids safe. The medical literature makes clear that high two-dose coverage is the backbone of preventing outbreaks.
But common sense can’t do the job alone when bureaucratic decisions and budget choices hobble local public health. Recent reporting shows funding and staffing cuts and reorganizations inside federal health agencies have weakened the front lines that respond to localized outbreaks. If we want outbreaks stopped quickly, Washington must stop playing games and ensure the boots on the ground have the resources they need.
Let’s also call out the misinformation that’s worsened this crisis. Research and reporting have documented how vaccine hesitancy and bad actors have driven down coverage and opened the door to preventable suffering and even deaths. Conservatives should be the first to defend truth and the best of American medicine against fear campaigns that put children at risk.
So what should real leaders do? First, fund targeted vaccine research and rapid diagnostics so public health teams can move faster than the virus. Second, strengthen school-entry protocols and community outreach so local leaders — not faraway bureaucrats — can protect children and keep classrooms open. Practical, accountable, and local solutions win every time.
Time is not our friend. The same public health authorities warning that the U.S. could lose its elimination status are telling us the window to stop continuous transmission is closing. If we care about liberty, prosperity, and the future of our children, we need decisive action now — more research, better funding, and real accountability.
Americans working hard to provide for their families deserve leaders who put results over rhetoric. Backing vaccine research, restoring public health capacity, and confronting misinformation are not partisan — they are patriotic. Let’s get to work protecting kids, defending science, and restoring the common-sense public health that once kept measles at bay.
