Podcast Host / Narrator (likely Brittany Luce or NPR Host)

And he believed it. He went on to join the World Mercury Project, later renamed Children's Health Defense, a nonprofit that has become a prominent voice in the anti-vaccine movement. And while not affiliated with the organization anymore, he is advocating for the use of alternative medicines like vitamin A to treat measles.

And even after RFK Jr. encouraged the use of the MMR vaccine, he later posted pictures with the families that lost their children and promoted two therapies, aerosolized budesonide and clarithromycin. Aerosolized budesonide is used for asthma, and the latter is an oral antibiotic, but neither of these are effective for treating measles.

And even after RFK Jr. encouraged the use of the MMR vaccine, he later posted pictures with the families that lost their children and promoted two therapies, aerosolized budesonide and clarithromycin. Aerosolized budesonide is used for asthma, and the latter is an oral antibiotic, but neither of these are effective for treating measles.

And even after RFK Jr. encouraged the use of the MMR vaccine, he later posted pictures with the families that lost their children and promoted two therapies, aerosolized budesonide and clarithromycin. Aerosolized budesonide is used for asthma, and the latter is an oral antibiotic, but neither of these are effective for treating measles.

This mixed messaging has come with pushback, not just from public health officials, but even from his vaccine skeptic, Make America Healthy Again constituents. Despite that, it doesn't reverse the damage anti-vaccine rhetoric has already done in these communities.

This mixed messaging has come with pushback, not just from public health officials, but even from his vaccine skeptic, Make America Healthy Again constituents. Despite that, it doesn't reverse the damage anti-vaccine rhetoric has already done in these communities.

This mixed messaging has come with pushback, not just from public health officials, but even from his vaccine skeptic, Make America Healthy Again constituents. Despite that, it doesn't reverse the damage anti-vaccine rhetoric has already done in these communities.

So today... NPR's Senior Science and Health Editor, Maria Godoy, and NBC News Senior Reporter, Brandi Zadrozny. Join me to get into how anti-vax rhetoric has created a culture of vaccine hesitancy and how the resurgence of measles is a bigger indicator of what's to come.

So today... NPR's Senior Science and Health Editor, Maria Godoy, and NBC News Senior Reporter, Brandi Zadrozny. Join me to get into how anti-vax rhetoric has created a culture of vaccine hesitancy and how the resurgence of measles is a bigger indicator of what's to come.

So today... NPR's Senior Science and Health Editor, Maria Godoy, and NBC News Senior Reporter, Brandi Zadrozny. Join me to get into how anti-vax rhetoric has created a culture of vaccine hesitancy and how the resurgence of measles is a bigger indicator of what's to come.

I was so heartbroken when I first learned about the child who died from measles in West Texas. I mean, not only is it just extremely tragic, but according to the World Health Organization, it was the first death in the But what really struck me was this video of the parents talking about their daughter's passing. The interview was conducted in English and German.

I was so heartbroken when I first learned about the child who died from measles in West Texas. I mean, not only is it just extremely tragic, but according to the World Health Organization, it was the first death in the But what really struck me was this video of the parents talking about their daughter's passing. The interview was conducted in English and German.

I was so heartbroken when I first learned about the child who died from measles in West Texas. I mean, not only is it just extremely tragic, but according to the World Health Organization, it was the first death in the But what really struck me was this video of the parents talking about their daughter's passing. The interview was conducted in English and German.

And at one point, the German translator said that the parents would still advise against getting the vaccine. They also said measles are not as bad as they're making it out to be.

And at one point, the German translator said that the parents would still advise against getting the vaccine. They also said measles are not as bad as they're making it out to be.

And at one point, the German translator said that the parents would still advise against getting the vaccine. They also said measles are not as bad as they're making it out to be.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, and, you know, to your point, like, that is, you know, for so many parents, protecting their child is like their number one motivation. Yeah. What is so sticky about these kinds of stories or narratives for people who believe anti-vaccination rhetoric or for people who are vaccine hesitant? What's so sticky about them?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, and, you know, to your point, like, that is, you know, for so many parents, protecting their child is like their number one motivation. Yeah. What is so sticky about these kinds of stories or narratives for people who believe anti-vaccination rhetoric or for people who are vaccine hesitant? What's so sticky about them?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, and, you know, to your point, like, that is, you know, for so many parents, protecting their child is like their number one motivation. Yeah. What is so sticky about these kinds of stories or narratives for people who believe anti-vaccination rhetoric or for people who are vaccine hesitant? What's so sticky about them?

I also read that after their daughter passed away, their four other children also got measles, but were treated by a local alternative medicine doctor. Who is this doctor and what kinds of remedies did he recommend?