this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2026
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politics

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A leading U.S. health official on Sunday urged people to get inoculated against the measles at a time of outbreaks across several states and as the United States is at risk of losing its measles elimination status.

“Take the vaccine, please,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator whose boss has raised suspicion about the safety and importance of vaccines. “We have a solution for our problem.”

Oz, a heart surgeon, defended some recently revised federal vaccine recommendations as well as past comments from President Donald Trump and the nation’s health chief, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about the efficacy of vaccines. From Oz, there was a clear message on the measles.

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[–] BanMe@lemmy.world 14 points 7 hours ago

Like how they're suddenly like, maybe don't drink the raw milk we've been promoting recklessly.

[–] agingelderly@lemmy.world 60 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

RFK: don't take the vaccine! Oz: take the vaccine! Trump: *shits pants

[–] D_C@sh.itjust.works 14 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

"Mr president, Brad Dongnozzle from CNN, is the shitting of your pants your way of agreeing or disagreeing about the vaccine?"
"What? Wait, I shit my pants? I don't remember doing that..." {shits pants again} "Oh, man, Putin isn't going to be happy about this!" {shits pants once again}

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 4 points 2 hours ago

Kompromat is meaningless when shitting your pants on live TV while denying all evidence of your pedophilic activities still can't take you down.

[–] pleaseletmein@lemmy.zip 5 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

RFK: You saw it here first folks, the vaccines will make the democrats shit your pants.

[–] Leather@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

Thanks Obama!

[–] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 13 points 7 hours ago

Nice try government, but this free thinker isn't fooled so easily.

[–] tonytins@pawb.social 90 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (3 children)

Oh, now you want us to take vaccines?

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 47 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

I thought the vaccines had 5G chips in them, and turned our brains to mush!

.........god we live in the dumbest timeline.

[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 37 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

My MAGA ex husband told our son that the vaccine had HIV in it after he already got it. Luckily our son believes in science so he was able to figure out that his dad had just gone coo coo but it’s still a pretty scary thing to tell a child

[–] digredior@lemmynsfw.com 23 points 11 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 19 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

I think he genuinely believes all of this Q anon stuff. We don’t have much contact with him anymore because he would go on long rants about how Antifa stormed the capital and other crazy q anon stuff. He also started bringing guns everywhere. He helped me canvas for Obama in 2008. This cult has sucked a lot of people in. He used to be pretty normal idk it pretty crazy. Unfortunately, I think most American families have people like this in them

[–] nkat2112@sh.itjust.works 5 points 8 hours ago

Thank you for sharing that personal note. I'm so sorry to hear what you and your son had to go through. The fact that your ex even helped you with canvassing for Obama in 2008 and then for things to turn around like this is mind-boggling.

But you're right to point out that the cult has sucked in so many people, particularly some who used to be quite normal at an earlier point. This is very sad and I feel for you, your son, and everyone who has suffered from this.

[–] Bonesince1997@lemmy.world 10 points 11 hours ago

I think that was just the covid vaccine (as if it matters). Re-upped my 5G signal with a booster just this weekend! Feeling connected.

[–] evenglow@lemmy.world 7 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

The dying is all fun and games for Republicans until their data tells them that now is not a good time for another pandemic shut down.

We had the flu of 1918 then covid 19. It will not take 100 years for the next big one. The medical industrial complex has not recovered from covid yet and people panicked voted Biden.

Yes, Republicans don't want another problem to fuck up their propaganda.

[–] tonytins@pawb.social 5 points 9 hours ago

Yes, Republicans don’t want another problem to fuck up their propaganda.

A problem they themselves keep causing.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 8 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

The measles vaccine has always been recommended and on the schedule..

[–] vividspecter@aussie.zone 12 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

The head of HHS, RFK Jr, famously killed a bunch of people in Samoa by lobbying against the measles vaccine. And Oz himself has anti-vaccine stances toward a number of other vaccines. Seems like consistent messaging may be helpful here.

[–] freddydunningkruger@lemmy.world 0 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

Care to explain the cause of all the measles outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, Arizona, Florida, and Washington?

[–] dickalan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

why are you making other people find information for you, the Internet's right in front of you bro

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 4 points 5 hours ago

People are refusing to vaccinate their kids

[–] Veedem@lemmy.world 29 points 12 hours ago (5 children)

The guy is still a doctor. His showed devolved quickly because there’s only so many ways to provide content for 5 days a week, but there has to be SOME part of him that knows the science and believes it.

[–] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 5 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

I remember when former GOP Senate Majority Leader, and heart surgeon, Bill Frist went on Bill Maher sometime around the late 2000s, or early 2010s, and they were discussing vaccines.

Bill Maher, being the shithead that he is, was voicing his vaccine skepticism even then.

Bill Frist, whom I'm loathe to give praise to, turned away from Maher, looked directly in the camera and said that vaccines were safe and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated.

[–] nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 hours ago

Shit like that gets you labeled a Communist in today's GOP.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 27 points 12 hours ago

I’m picturing that guy sweating over two red buttons. One says “Grifter” the other says “Doctor”.

[–] vividspecter@aussie.zone 10 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

He's a grifter more than anything else and will do whatever he believes serves his own interests, and only his own interests.

[–] PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world 3 points 9 hours ago

Let’s just say he’s seeing where the sails are blowing

[–] SpruceBringsteen@lemmy.world 16 points 11 hours ago

Unfortunately that small part is currently tasked with creating a cure for Lycanthropy based on RFK's blood.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 2 points 10 hours ago

People can compartmentalize. He can be completely all over the science and believe it factually as part of medicine while also believing that spouting nonsense that is unscientific is valid if he says so, as he's a doctor. His self interest can override his knowledge, in particular if it feeds his ego, as being a celebrity doctor would.

All doctors and scientists simplify their messaging when dealing with non scientists as a means to help them understand concepts they don't have a grounding in. That simplification is often factually incorrect. It's a slippery slope.

Particularly in this modern world. Our brains in general seek order and certainty, but almost everything is on a spectrum. So when scientist talk in facts and absolutes, it's easy to negate their message with edge cases or precise sticking points that they are ignoring for simplicity. Take vaccines. They have known side effects. They are deemed safe. People can still die. Cars and planes are likewise deemed safe.

[–] Rhoeri@piefed.world 7 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

That’ll learn ‘em…. I’m sure the willfully ignorant pieces of shit will definitely start falling in line.

[–] frunch@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Rhoeri@piefed.world 1 points 7 hours ago
[–] Bonesince1997@lemmy.world 13 points 11 hours ago

Losing voters?

[–] nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 hours ago

The fact that this clown is a "Top US Health Official" is a great indication of an empire in decline.

[–] Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone 10 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

Regular reminder that if you were born before 1989 you probably only got 1 measles vaccine, as was recommended at the time, and no booster. The booster bumps effectiveness up from 93% to 97%. You can ask your doctor to test your antibodies for measles immunity to see if you need it, or ask to just go ahead with the booster if you know you didn’t get it.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 2 points 4 hours ago

There's also no harm in getting the vaccine again if you're not sure whether you had it before (but did).

[–] aramis87@fedia.io 4 points 9 hours ago

In the US:

  • If you were born before 1957, you're presumed immune to measles.
  • If you were vaccinated before 1967, you should get a booster [the original vaccine wasn't as effective as the later vaccine].
  • If you were vaccinated between 1967 and 1989, you should consider a booster shot [they thought you only needed one shot, but you actually need two].
  • If you were vaccinated after 1989, you are presumed immune.
[–] SarahValentine@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 11 hours ago

Good of him to take RFKj's dick out of his mouth long enough to say this.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 hours ago

Shouldn't this be in c/leopardsatemyface?