Wellness Unmasked Weekly Rundown: Measles Cases Surge in the U.S., Vaccine Debate Returns & FDA Warns on GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs

3/5/20267 mincomplete

0:02Welcome to Wellness Unmasked. I'm Dr.

0:04Nicole Sapphire. This is your weekly rundown.

0:07Well, if I sound a little bit tired this week, that's because I am tired.

0:10What I'm tired of is I'm tired of talking about measles cases.

0:14Because that's right, measles cases, I've been talking about it for months now, they are

0:19continuing to rise across the United States.

0:21And it's a reminder of something many of us thought we had already solved.

0:26Measles was officially declared eliminated in the United States in the year 2000.

0:29That is the year my first child was born.

0:32He is now almost 26.

0:34We've gone a quarter of a century with the elimination status of measles.

0:39Our only cases really were because of travel.

0:42That's essentially meant that the virus wasn't spreading continuously in our country.

0:47But that status, it's now at risk.

0:50In just the first months of 2026, more than 1 ,000 measles cases have already

0:55been reported across the United States, with outbreaks spanning multiple states.

1:00Several states have reported their first cases of measles in years.

1:05Last year, the country saw the highest number of measles infections in more than 30

1:11years, with several large outbreaks, including one in Texas, that infected hundreds of people.

1:17So why is this happening?

1:19Because I tell you, 2026, we're on track to have even more.

1:22Well, because measles is one of the most contagious viruses we know.

1:26I know we've heard all about COVID.

1:28But let me tell you, measles is even more contagious.

1:31If one infected person enters a room of unvaccinated people, about nine out of 10

1:37can become infected. And it sticks around for a while.

1:41It stays in the air and surfaces and everything else.

1:44And in our global world of international travel, all it takes is a single case

1:49to spark an outbreak. This week, the CDC's acting director, Dr.

1:54Jay Bhattacharya, he is newly acting director of CDC.

1:58All of a sudden, you're hearing a messaging change, a bit of a movement shift

2:03when it comes from the CDC and the Trump administration, specifically addressing the measles outbreak.

2:09And I'll be honest, I'm here for it.

2:11I love the new messaging.

2:12Dr. Jay Bhattacharya posted a message encouraging Americans to get vaccinated against measles, emphasizing that

2:19vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the disease.

2:24And for those who need a refresher, the MMR vaccine, you know, measles, mumps, rubella,

2:29it's about 97 % effective at preventing disease after two doses.

2:34These are typically given in childhood.

2:37Now, vaccination doesn't just protect individuals.

2:39It actually protects communities, especially infants, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems who

2:46may not be able to receive or don't respond to the vaccine.

2:49Now, history shows the impact.

2:51Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, millions of Americans were infected each year

2:56and hundreds died annually. Yes, I understand.

2:59Millions infected, hundreds died. So people are like, well, it's a very low percentage of

3:05people that die. Let me tell you, death is not the only negative outcome of

3:08measles. It can have permanent brain damage and it can affect a lot of other

3:13aspects of the body that is permanent.

3:16A lot of people can wind up in the hospital.

3:18It can overwhelm the healthcare system.

3:21And again, it can have lifelong severe consequences in the individual.

3:25You can't just based a severity on death.

3:28You don't want death to be the only outcome that is negative.

3:32No, absolutely not. There's so much more than that.

3:35The reality is vaccination changed all of that overnight.

3:38But this conversation isn't just about measles.

3:41It's about trust in public health.

3:43Let's be honest. Over the past several years, Americans have seen intense debate over vaccines,

3:49mandates, public health policy, you know, everything that went wrong with COVID.

3:53And here's where the nuance matters.

3:55Because as a physician, I believe strongly in two things at the same time.

4:00First, patients deserve the freedom to make medical decisions with their doctor.

4:05I believe that is true.

4:06I never felt more strongly about it since COVID.

4:09But second, they also deserve honest, transparent information about what the science actually shows.

4:16The reality is vaccines are not perfect.

4:18There are risks. There will always be mild consequences to vaccines.

4:24There will always be severe side effects to vaccines.

4:28Albeit rare, they do occur.

4:30No medical intervention is perfect.

4:33I talk with patients every single day about the risks and benefits of the intervention

4:38that we're doing. Vaccines are no different.

4:41But when vaccination rates drop, preventable disease come back.

4:45And measles is one of the clearest examples of that.

4:49We're seeing it right now.

4:50We have seen declining vaccination rates since before COVID, and it has gotten significantly worse

4:57since COVID. We have to get back on track.

4:59We need to roll back a lot of the mandates.

5:02But we also need to make sure that there is clear messaging that vaccines, while

5:06they come with risks, they are overwhelmingly safe.

5:09And they do prevent morbidity and mortality from what would be a preventable illness.

5:13And now another quick health topic of the week, I just want to get this

5:17in here, although I think vaccines are really the big topic of the week.

5:20But it's the fact that the FDA just issued a warning letter to more than

5:2430 tellers. health companies for making misleading claims about compounded versions of popular GLP -1

5:30medications. You know, those popular weight loss medications.

5:34Yeah, they're saying, hey, guys, you know what?

5:37These marketed online drugs that claim to be equivalent to medications like semi -glutide, the

5:43FDA is saying, I don't think so.

5:45We don't believe that they have been safety and quality attested.

5:49They are not equivalent. And you actually have to be a little bit more honest

5:52in your marketing. FDA -approved medications go through rigorous testing for safety, dosing, and manufacturing

5:58standards. Compounding medications that you get online or at these compounding med spots or whatever

6:04it is can be, you know, they can be appropriate in certain clinical situations, but

6:08they're not the same as an approved drug, especially since the rollout of TrumpRx, where

6:13you can get the actual FDA -approved medications at a significantly discounted price.

6:19I'm not sure it really makes sense to be getting them from med spas, but

6:22who knows? My bottom line is talk to your doctor before you take any of

6:27these medications. I think the FDA -approved ones are going to be safer because they

6:31have been quality attested, whereas the compounded pharmacy ones you get from the med spas,

6:37I don't really know what's in them, and it makes me a little bit nervous.

6:40But obviously, at the end of the day, public health works best when science, transparency,

6:47personal responsibility, they all work together.

6:49Whether we're talking about measles, we're talking about GLP -1s, we're talking about whatever it

6:53is. The goal isn't control, it's protection.

6:56Protection for our families, our communities, and the most vulnerable amongst us.

7:01I'm Dr. Nicole Sapphire, and this has been your Wellness Unmasse weekly rundown.

7:05Make sure you listen to Wellness Unmasse on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get

7:10your podcasts, and I'll see you next time.

Dr. Nicole Sapphire opens the episode expressing frustration over the resurgence of measles in the United States, noting that cases have surpassed 1,000 in the first months of 2026, marking the highest numbers in over 30 years. She highlights the measles virus's extreme contagiousness, explaining that it can infect nearly 90% of unvaccinated people in a room, and discusses the recent shift in CDC messaging under acting director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya that encourages vaccination to combat the outbreaks.

The host emphasizes the importance of herd immunity and the severe consequences of the disease, which go beyond death to include permanent brain damage and hospitalization. She addresses the decline in vaccination rates since the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for a balance between patient freedom and transparent science. Dr. Sapphire argues that while vaccines are not perfect, they are overwhelmingly safe and necessary to protect vulnerable populations.

The episode concludes with a brief segment on GLP-1 medications, where the FDA issued warnings to compounding pharmacies for making misleading claims about weight loss drugs. Dr. Sapphire advises listeners to stick to FDA-approved medications like those available through TrumpRx rather than unverified compounded versions, reiterating that public health relies on science, transparency, and personal responsibility.

educational and concerned

measlesvaccinationcdcpublic healthglp-1weight lossinfectious diseasemedical misinformationherd immunitydr. jay bhattacharyafdacommunity protection

Infectious Disease Resurgence

Discussion of the return of measles after 25 years of elimination, focusing on transmission rates, the role of international travel, and the critical need for vaccination.

Public Health Messaging

Analysis of the shift in communication from the CDC under the new administration and the importance of transparent, science-based information to rebuild public trust.

Medical Safety and Regulation

Examination of FDA warnings regarding compounded GLP-1 medications and the distinction between FDA-approved drugs and unverified online alternatives.

Individual vs. Community Health

The host's nuanced stance balancing patient autonomy with the collective responsibility of maintaining herd immunity and protecting vulnerable groups.

“If one infected person enters a room of unvaccinated people, about nine out of 10 can become infected.”

“Death is not the only negative outcome of measles. It can have permanent brain damage and it can affect a lot of other aspects of the body that is permanent.”

“Patients deserve the freedom to make medical decisions with their doctor... but they also deserve honest, transparent information about what the science actually shows.”

“The goal isn't control, it's protection. Protection for our families, our communities, and the most vulnerable amongst us.”