NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

A second child died from measles-related causes in Texas where an outbreak has infected at least 505. Until this year, the U.S. had no reported measles deaths in a decade. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former anti-vaccine advocate, now says the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles. Deema Zein spoke with someone who had a front-row seat to its creation.

View the transcript of this story. News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

Teacher's note: If time is short, WATCH: 5 questions for the man whose blood helped create the measles vaccine:

KEY TERMS

measles — an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash on the skin, typically occurring in childhood

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. When was the last time the U.S. reported a death from measles?
2. Who is David Edmonston?
3. What did Dr. Peebles and his team do with Edmonston's blood sample?
4. How did the MMR vaccine affect deaths from measles?
5. Why did Edmonston and his wife not vaccinate their son?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

Despite donating his blood to help develop the MMR vaccine, David Edmonston later became skeptical of the vaccine's efficacy and chose not to vaccinate his son. More recently, he has realized that vaccines are important and speaks out in their favor, hoping to help educate other Americans who may still have doubts.

1. What do you think makes people distrust vaccines?
2. Do you think that U.S. Secretary of Health and known vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaking in favor of the MMR vaccine will help convince Americans that vaccines are safe and necessary?

Media literacy: Who is someone else that you would like to see interviewed to discuss the science of vaccines?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Watch the video below to learn how NIH funding cuts made by the Trump administration affect vaccine research.

1. What was Sophia Newcomer researching before her grant was canceled?
2. Why were the studies affected by the NIH funding cuts important for public health?

To learn about who the CDC recommends should get the measles booster and when, check out this article.

Written by Gianfranco Beran, PBS News Hour Classroom's production assistant, and News Hour's Victoria Pasquantonio.

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