Surgeon general nominee won't say she urges vaccination

Surgeon general nominee Means declined to explicitly urge vaccination and said individuals should consult their doctors; Senator Bill Cassidy pressed her and cited recent measles outbreaks and child deaths.

Means faced questioning at a Senate health committee hearing about how she would handle vaccine messaging as the nation's top doctor. She declined to explicitly urge vaccination and emphasized that individuals should consult their doctors before taking medications. Senator Bill Cassidy pressed her on vaccine safety and autism questions while citing recent measles outbreaks. Key points: - Means did not directly urge vaccination and said people should talk with their doctors before taking medications. - She said broadly that vaccines save lives and that she is supportive of vaccination, but she did not rule out a possible autism link and said the question should continue to be studied. - Cassidy cited measles outbreaks, including about 1,000 cases in South Carolina and two child deaths in west Texas, and warned about the risk to the country's measles elimination status. Summary: The exchange highlighted questions about how the nominee would communicate public health information on vaccines and ongoing debate about autism research. Undetermined at this time.