Health conspiracy thinkers are occasionally right about some issues—for the wrong reasons. The latest example? The news that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants more research into treatments for measles infection.
According to The New York Times, the Department of Health and Human Services is directing agencies like the CDC and NIH “to explore potential new treatments for the disease, including vitamins.”
The article quotes several public health experts—some of whom I know personally—criticizing the effort. Their concerns are valid: they fear research into treatments might divert resources from prevention or give the public the false impression that vaccination is unnecessary.
Should We Invest in Measles Treatment Research?
Several things can be true at the same time:
First, I agree that the highest priority for federal measles resources is reducing the force of infection through large-scale vaccination campaigns. It is rising when it should be near zero.
Second, some people will get infected and need treatment for measles. That includes a mix of people—some (or their parents) who chose this risk by refusing or delaying vaccination, and others who had no choice: infants under age 1, people with immune compromise, or those who didn’t respond to both recommended doses.
Third, there hasn’t been sufficient research into antiviral therapies for measles—or for many other infectious diseases. The golden age of antimicrobial therapy coincided with the golden age of vaccine development. Because vaccines were so effective, there was little incentive—either public or private—to invest in treatments for diseases that seemed headed for elimination.
I’ve argued before that we need more investment in antiviral research. I disagree with experts quoted in the article who claim that there’s already been enough research into measles treatments. The last major clinical trials involved ribavirin—and that was decades ago.
Why We Need Both Vaccination and Treatment
My hope is that this administration will eventually undo the damage that’s been done—and commit to both preventing and treating measles. But honestly, I’m not feeling particularly hopeful right now.
If we want to rebuild trust in public health, we have to show that we’re serious about both preventing illness and caring for those who still get sick.