United States: Dr. Ali Sherif administers around 50 measles vaccine doses to children monthly at his Hobbs, New Mexico clinic, which is situated near the Texas boundary.
Vaccine Demand Surges
An increase of approximately 25% in the number of vaccine shots occurred at his clinic after regional parents sought protection by getting vaccinations for their young kids and school-going children to fight the increasing measles outbreak, which infected over 600 people and claimed three lives.
Similar to other physicians across the United States, Sherif depends on a federal vaccine procurement program to acquire immunizations without charging his patients.
State public health officials administer the Vaccines for Children program, which receives funding from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Trump cuts threaten free vaccine program for kids amid measles outbreak https://t.co/BSkT5JfXoC pic.twitter.com/n6KIgmUt8Q
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 23, 2025
The federal vaccines program puts forward $5 billion annually to provide vaccines that result in half of all jabs given to children in the United States every year.
The initiative pays drug makers Merck and GlaxoSmithKline discounted prices for vaccine production, but state health departments and medical providers operate the program.
The MMR vaccine expense under the program amounts to USD 26 per dose, while private-sector delivery costs USD 95, as listed by the CDC.
Federal Cuts Threaten Public Health Infrastructure
Fewer federal health resources alongside employee reductions create risks to the successful achievement of a vital public health initiative that has become fundamental in US disease prevention, according to former CDC personnel along with medical disease officials.
"Cutting support for national & global immunization programs threatens the U.S. measles elimination certification, limits economic growth, undermines U.S. trading partners, and imperils children globally," writes @CSISHealth expert @KatherineEBliss.
— CSIS (@CSIS) April 21, 2025
More: https://t.co/m3ccTIZS4O
Decisions made by the Trump administration caused the termination of about 10,000 workers at the US Department of Health and Human Services, with substantial reductions at the CDC being part of a major federal workforce reduction.
According to HHS, there were another 10,000 workers who departed by choice.
The staff members at the CDC who operate the children’s vaccine program remained unaffected by the recent organizational changes, according to three individuals with inside knowledge.