As the US grapples with a growing measles outbreak, Hawaii’s governor warns that the country is at risk of experiencing another devastating epidemic if decisive action isn’t taken. Dr. Josh Green, the state’s top leader, has firsthand experience battling the virus, having led an emergency medical mission to Samoa in 2019 and successfully vaccinated over 37,000 people against measles.
According to CDC data, 14 states have vaccination rates among kindergartners below the 90% threshold necessary for herd immunity. The situation is dire, with Texas reporting over 400 measles cases, including the first child death in more than a decade.
Governor Green emphasizes that vaccination campaigns save lives and notes that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the MMR vaccine as safe and effective since 1971. He strongly disagrees with claims by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that vaccination is a “personal choice,” arguing that it’s a moral responsibility to protect vulnerable people by contributing to herd immunity.
To combat the outbreak, Governor Green advocates for four essential pillars: education, community engagement, accessibility, and responsible public policy. He urges the federal government to launch an extensive science-based vaccination campaign with clear communication about vaccine safety and effectiveness, engaging local voices, and ensuring access to vaccines for all.
The situation demands swift action, and Governor Green emphasizes that it’s their collective moral responsibility to prevent more infection, suffering, and deaths among American children through commitment to safe and effective vaccines and public health education.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/05/health/hawaii-governor-measles-call-to-action/index.html