On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) posted on the social platform X to underscore the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing deaths, citing an article from The Lancet. Cornyn highlighted that since 1974, vaccination has averted 154 million deaths globally, including 146 million among children under five years old, with 101 million being infants under one year. He noted that vaccination has contributed to a 40 percent decline in global infant mortality and a 52 percent reduction in the African region. Additionally, Cornyn stated that in 2024, a child under 10 years old is 40 percent more likely to survive to their next birthday compared to a scenario without historical vaccination.

Cornyn’s post came in response to President Trump’s executive order aimed at decreasing childhood vaccines and altering the standard immunization schedule by separating the combined mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The post indirectly reflected concerns about the executive order, echoed by other GOP senators such as Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a medical doctor and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Cassidy responded on X shortly after the order was signed, stating, “Vaccines DO NOT cause autism.”

The Pan American Health Organization attributed the recent increase in measles cases primarily to declining childhood vaccination rates falling below the threshold needed for community immunity.

Meanwhile, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been managing the outbreak without a Senate-confirmed agency head following the departure of the former Director.

Sources