Craig Spencer MD MPH
@craigspencer.bsky.social
ER Doctor | Ebola Survivor | Public Health & Humanitarian Response | Historical Determinants of Public Health at Brown School of Public Health | Member Council on Foreign Relations | Emmy Award Winner 🏆
If you’ve read the book recently, you’d know that the topic of conversation at last night’s White House ‘Gatsby Party’ was probably very similar to what Fitzgerald wrote in 1925.
November 1, 2025 at 11:10 PM
If you’ve read the book recently, you’d know that the topic of conversation at last night’s White House ‘Gatsby Party’ was probably very similar to what Fitzgerald wrote in 1925.
Yesterday, RFK Jr announced the U.S. wouldn't continue to support Gavi, the leading international vaccine organization.
I had a lot of thoughts, so I put them in my first ever Substack.
tl;dr—this is RFK Jr taking his anti-vaccine crusade global.
Read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigasp...
I had a lot of thoughts, so I put them in my first ever Substack.
tl;dr—this is RFK Jr taking his anti-vaccine crusade global.
Read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigasp...
June 26, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Yesterday, RFK Jr announced the U.S. wouldn't continue to support Gavi, the leading international vaccine organization.
I had a lot of thoughts, so I put them in my first ever Substack.
tl;dr—this is RFK Jr taking his anti-vaccine crusade global.
Read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigasp...
I had a lot of thoughts, so I put them in my first ever Substack.
tl;dr—this is RFK Jr taking his anti-vaccine crusade global.
Read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigasp...
Really honored to be featured as a guest on the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)'s podcast 'Infectious Ideas'.
Our episode—'From Shark Dreams to Global Health' was released today!
🎙️https://www.nfid.org/podcast/from-shark-dreams-to-global-health-with-craig-spencer-md-mph/
Our episode—'From Shark Dreams to Global Health' was released today!
🎙️https://www.nfid.org/podcast/from-shark-dreams-to-global-health-with-craig-spencer-md-mph/
June 4, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Really honored to be featured as a guest on the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)'s podcast 'Infectious Ideas'.
Our episode—'From Shark Dreams to Global Health' was released today!
🎙️https://www.nfid.org/podcast/from-shark-dreams-to-global-health-with-craig-spencer-md-mph/
Our episode—'From Shark Dreams to Global Health' was released today!
🎙️https://www.nfid.org/podcast/from-shark-dreams-to-global-health-with-craig-spencer-md-mph/
The measles vaccine is proven to work. It has saved millions of lives. That’s an undeniable fact, no matter what anyone says.
The ‘treatments’ repeatedly touted by RFK Jr—budesonide, clarithromycin, and cod liver oil—do not. No matter what anyone like him says. 🧵
The ‘treatments’ repeatedly touted by RFK Jr—budesonide, clarithromycin, and cod liver oil—do not. No matter what anyone like him says. 🧵
May 2, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The measles vaccine is proven to work. It has saved millions of lives. That’s an undeniable fact, no matter what anyone says.
The ‘treatments’ repeatedly touted by RFK Jr—budesonide, clarithromycin, and cod liver oil—do not. No matter what anyone like him says. 🧵
The ‘treatments’ repeatedly touted by RFK Jr—budesonide, clarithromycin, and cod liver oil—do not. No matter what anyone like him says. 🧵
An incredibly passionate and moving presentation by @madhupai.bsky.social on global health equity and allyship today at Brown University.
His energy, expertise, and insistence on hope at this dark moment are exactly what we needed right now! 🙏
His energy, expertise, and insistence on hope at this dark moment are exactly what we needed right now! 🙏
April 29, 2025 at 10:28 PM
An incredibly passionate and moving presentation by @madhupai.bsky.social on global health equity and allyship today at Brown University.
His energy, expertise, and insistence on hope at this dark moment are exactly what we needed right now! 🙏
His energy, expertise, and insistence on hope at this dark moment are exactly what we needed right now! 🙏
“you can think of measles cases as a probe for whether we are paying attention…While measles is often first, it is a harbinger of problems to come.”
Highly recommend ‘Booster Shots’ by @adamratnermd.bsky.social. Crucial for understanding the history of measles and what the future likely holds.
Highly recommend ‘Booster Shots’ by @adamratnermd.bsky.social. Crucial for understanding the history of measles and what the future likely holds.
April 25, 2025 at 3:26 AM
“you can think of measles cases as a probe for whether we are paying attention…While measles is often first, it is a harbinger of problems to come.”
Highly recommend ‘Booster Shots’ by @adamratnermd.bsky.social. Crucial for understanding the history of measles and what the future likely holds.
Highly recommend ‘Booster Shots’ by @adamratnermd.bsky.social. Crucial for understanding the history of measles and what the future likely holds.
It was deadly scandals involving things like 'swill milk', patent medicines including actual snake oil, and tainted food that led to the creation of today's FDA.
With less oversight of the things we eat and drink, it is only a matter of time before we deeply regret these cuts.
With less oversight of the things we eat and drink, it is only a matter of time before we deeply regret these cuts.
April 22, 2025 at 11:45 PM
It was deadly scandals involving things like 'swill milk', patent medicines including actual snake oil, and tainted food that led to the creation of today's FDA.
With less oversight of the things we eat and drink, it is only a matter of time before we deeply regret these cuts.
With less oversight of the things we eat and drink, it is only a matter of time before we deeply regret these cuts.
The measles outbreak in Texas continues to grow—36 more cases in the last week, up to 597 total
The true number of cases is certainly much much higher
And consistently 97% of cases are in the unvaccinated
We don't need more studies
The data has been—and remains—very clear
The true number of cases is certainly much much higher
And consistently 97% of cases are in the unvaccinated
We don't need more studies
The data has been—and remains—very clear
April 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The measles outbreak in Texas continues to grow—36 more cases in the last week, up to 597 total
The true number of cases is certainly much much higher
And consistently 97% of cases are in the unvaccinated
We don't need more studies
The data has been—and remains—very clear
The true number of cases is certainly much much higher
And consistently 97% of cases are in the unvaccinated
We don't need more studies
The data has been—and remains—very clear
So, why does all this matter?
We should certainly take it as a win that RFK Jr has finally endorsed vaccination to prevent measles.
But he MUST do more
Kids are dying of other vaccine-preventable diseases, largely due to his work over decades undermining vaccines
We should certainly take it as a win that RFK Jr has finally endorsed vaccination to prevent measles.
But he MUST do more
Kids are dying of other vaccine-preventable diseases, largely due to his work over decades undermining vaccines
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
So, why does all this matter?
We should certainly take it as a win that RFK Jr has finally endorsed vaccination to prevent measles.
But he MUST do more
Kids are dying of other vaccine-preventable diseases, largely due to his work over decades undermining vaccines
We should certainly take it as a win that RFK Jr has finally endorsed vaccination to prevent measles.
But he MUST do more
Kids are dying of other vaccine-preventable diseases, largely due to his work over decades undermining vaccines
In the same post, however, he deliberately added a falsehood
In fact, he edited a falsehood IN to his post AFTER posting it
His edited post included 'the growth rates for news cases and hospitalizations [from measles] has flattened"
Sounds nice
But that just isn't true
In fact, he edited a falsehood IN to his post AFTER posting it
His edited post included 'the growth rates for news cases and hospitalizations [from measles] has flattened"
Sounds nice
But that just isn't true
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
In the same post, however, he deliberately added a falsehood
In fact, he edited a falsehood IN to his post AFTER posting it
His edited post included 'the growth rates for news cases and hospitalizations [from measles] has flattened"
Sounds nice
But that just isn't true
In fact, he edited a falsehood IN to his post AFTER posting it
His edited post included 'the growth rates for news cases and hospitalizations [from measles] has flattened"
Sounds nice
But that just isn't true
Moving on from Malone's misinformation...
Today, RFK Jr broke his silence and fully endorsed measles vaccination as "The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles"
Well, in the third paragraph of an X post, at least
Today, RFK Jr broke his silence and fully endorsed measles vaccination as "The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles"
Well, in the third paragraph of an X post, at least
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Moving on from Malone's misinformation...
Today, RFK Jr broke his silence and fully endorsed measles vaccination as "The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles"
Well, in the third paragraph of an X post, at least
Today, RFK Jr broke his silence and fully endorsed measles vaccination as "The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles"
Well, in the third paragraph of an X post, at least
I'll skip over the other falsehoods to touch on this common refrain:
Kids are dying — not because of measles — but because of medical malpractice
They said the same thing after the first child died of measles
They are saying it again
And they will say it next time too
Kids are dying — not because of measles — but because of medical malpractice
They said the same thing after the first child died of measles
They are saying it again
And they will say it next time too
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I'll skip over the other falsehoods to touch on this common refrain:
Kids are dying — not because of measles — but because of medical malpractice
They said the same thing after the first child died of measles
They are saying it again
And they will say it next time too
Kids are dying — not because of measles — but because of medical malpractice
They said the same thing after the first child died of measles
They are saying it again
And they will say it next time too
It gets worse
He goes on to say:
"Measles outbreaks are common, in both vaccinated and unvaccinated regions."
This is such a lazy lie
Do measles outbreaks occur in 'vaccinated regions'?
Yes
BUT ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AMONGST THE UNVACCINATED
Look again at Texas now...
He goes on to say:
"Measles outbreaks are common, in both vaccinated and unvaccinated regions."
This is such a lazy lie
Do measles outbreaks occur in 'vaccinated regions'?
Yes
BUT ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AMONGST THE UNVACCINATED
Look again at Texas now...
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
It gets worse
He goes on to say:
"Measles outbreaks are common, in both vaccinated and unvaccinated regions."
This is such a lazy lie
Do measles outbreaks occur in 'vaccinated regions'?
Yes
BUT ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AMONGST THE UNVACCINATED
Look again at Texas now...
He goes on to say:
"Measles outbreaks are common, in both vaccinated and unvaccinated regions."
This is such a lazy lie
Do measles outbreaks occur in 'vaccinated regions'?
Yes
BUT ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AMONGST THE UNVACCINATED
Look again at Texas now...
This makes no sense. Like, none.
But he uses words like 'acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)' and 'gram positive cocci', so who wouldn't believe him??
Those 'gram positive cocci' are bacteria from a severe infection
But he uses words like 'acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)' and 'gram positive cocci', so who wouldn't believe him??
Those 'gram positive cocci' are bacteria from a severe infection
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
This makes no sense. Like, none.
But he uses words like 'acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)' and 'gram positive cocci', so who wouldn't believe him??
Those 'gram positive cocci' are bacteria from a severe infection
But he uses words like 'acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)' and 'gram positive cocci', so who wouldn't believe him??
Those 'gram positive cocci' are bacteria from a severe infection
His post is from 6pm yesterday, 12 hours before the NYT and others wrote about this
He is clearly getting insider and earlier information
He says a 'licensed Texas physician with significant experience treating measles', perhaps the same who has been pushing false treatments
He is clearly getting insider and earlier information
He says a 'licensed Texas physician with significant experience treating measles', perhaps the same who has been pushing false treatments
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
His post is from 6pm yesterday, 12 hours before the NYT and others wrote about this
He is clearly getting insider and earlier information
He says a 'licensed Texas physician with significant experience treating measles', perhaps the same who has been pushing false treatments
He is clearly getting insider and earlier information
He says a 'licensed Texas physician with significant experience treating measles', perhaps the same who has been pushing false treatments
In his post last night, he tells the story of what supposedly happened leading up to this newest measles death
He also shares a LOT of very incorrect medical information, mistruths, and plain out lies
But there's something even more interesting to me about his post...
He also shares a LOT of very incorrect medical information, mistruths, and plain out lies
But there's something even more interesting to me about his post...
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
In his post last night, he tells the story of what supposedly happened leading up to this newest measles death
He also shares a LOT of very incorrect medical information, mistruths, and plain out lies
But there's something even more interesting to me about his post...
He also shares a LOT of very incorrect medical information, mistruths, and plain out lies
But there's something even more interesting to me about his post...
Many saw a NYT story yesterday morning about the second measles death
At that time, it hadn't been confirmed by HHS, CDC, or the Texas Department of Health
Apparently, the cause of death was 'still being looked at'
Which reads to me as a way to buy time to control the narrative
At that time, it hadn't been confirmed by HHS, CDC, or the Texas Department of Health
Apparently, the cause of death was 'still being looked at'
Which reads to me as a way to buy time to control the narrative
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Many saw a NYT story yesterday morning about the second measles death
At that time, it hadn't been confirmed by HHS, CDC, or the Texas Department of Health
Apparently, the cause of death was 'still being looked at'
Which reads to me as a way to buy time to control the narrative
At that time, it hadn't been confirmed by HHS, CDC, or the Texas Department of Health
Apparently, the cause of death was 'still being looked at'
Which reads to me as a way to buy time to control the narrative
Texas, the epicenter of the current outbreak, has reported nearly 500 cases
And that outbreak has seeded cases in numerous other states, including across the country
According to the Texas Department of Health, 98% of all cases — and all deaths — were in the unvaccinated
And that outbreak has seeded cases in numerous other states, including across the country
According to the Texas Department of Health, 98% of all cases — and all deaths — were in the unvaccinated
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Texas, the epicenter of the current outbreak, has reported nearly 500 cases
And that outbreak has seeded cases in numerous other states, including across the country
According to the Texas Department of Health, 98% of all cases — and all deaths — were in the unvaccinated
And that outbreak has seeded cases in numerous other states, including across the country
According to the Texas Department of Health, 98% of all cases — and all deaths — were in the unvaccinated
In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the United States
There were sporadic importations and some localized flareups
But what we're seeing now is likely just the beginning of bigger, more frequent, and more geographically diverse outbreaks here
h/t @erictopol.bsky.social
There were sporadic importations and some localized flareups
But what we're seeing now is likely just the beginning of bigger, more frequent, and more geographically diverse outbreaks here
h/t @erictopol.bsky.social
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the United States
There were sporadic importations and some localized flareups
But what we're seeing now is likely just the beginning of bigger, more frequent, and more geographically diverse outbreaks here
h/t @erictopol.bsky.social
There were sporadic importations and some localized flareups
But what we're seeing now is likely just the beginning of bigger, more frequent, and more geographically diverse outbreaks here
h/t @erictopol.bsky.social
Let's start with what we know
The death announced today was in an 8 year old girl
The hospital reports she died of 'measles pulmonary failure'
They also report she was unvaccinated
And had no other health conditions
An absolute tragedy. And completely preventable.
The death announced today was in an 8 year old girl
The hospital reports she died of 'measles pulmonary failure'
They also report she was unvaccinated
And had no other health conditions
An absolute tragedy. And completely preventable.
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Let's start with what we know
The death announced today was in an 8 year old girl
The hospital reports she died of 'measles pulmonary failure'
They also report she was unvaccinated
And had no other health conditions
An absolute tragedy. And completely preventable.
The death announced today was in an 8 year old girl
The hospital reports she died of 'measles pulmonary failure'
They also report she was unvaccinated
And had no other health conditions
An absolute tragedy. And completely preventable.
Yesterday we learned the sad news another child died from measles in Texas.
We also learned what RFK Jr. will and will not say
And we got a clearer glimpse of the playbook being used to discredit the proven measures to tackle measles outbreaks
Let me tell you why I'm worried 🧵
We also learned what RFK Jr. will and will not say
And we got a clearer glimpse of the playbook being used to discredit the proven measures to tackle measles outbreaks
Let me tell you why I'm worried 🧵
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Yesterday we learned the sad news another child died from measles in Texas.
We also learned what RFK Jr. will and will not say
And we got a clearer glimpse of the playbook being used to discredit the proven measures to tackle measles outbreaks
Let me tell you why I'm worried 🧵
We also learned what RFK Jr. will and will not say
And we got a clearer glimpse of the playbook being used to discredit the proven measures to tackle measles outbreaks
Let me tell you why I'm worried 🧵
The U.S. has actively dismantled the global disease-detection programs we all—including Americans—rely on to stay safe
Today this administration’s short-sighted global health agenda got even even worse
It’s ending its support for vaccine programs around the world
Why?? 🧵
Today this administration’s short-sighted global health agenda got even even worse
It’s ending its support for vaccine programs around the world
Why?? 🧵
March 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The U.S. has actively dismantled the global disease-detection programs we all—including Americans—rely on to stay safe
Today this administration’s short-sighted global health agenda got even even worse
It’s ending its support for vaccine programs around the world
Why?? 🧵
Today this administration’s short-sighted global health agenda got even even worse
It’s ending its support for vaccine programs around the world
Why?? 🧵
Tonight we were so lucky to hear from my friend and colleague @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social on ‘Pandemic-Proofing the Future’.
She was chosen for the Brown University Presidential faculty Award and we couldn’t be any luckier to have her and her leadership at @pandemiccenter.bsky.social.
She was chosen for the Brown University Presidential faculty Award and we couldn’t be any luckier to have her and her leadership at @pandemiccenter.bsky.social.
March 10, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Tonight we were so lucky to hear from my friend and colleague @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social on ‘Pandemic-Proofing the Future’.
She was chosen for the Brown University Presidential faculty Award and we couldn’t be any luckier to have her and her leadership at @pandemiccenter.bsky.social.
She was chosen for the Brown University Presidential faculty Award and we couldn’t be any luckier to have her and her leadership at @pandemiccenter.bsky.social.
This is USAID’s page on X.
It’s been scrubbed clean.
And hours ago Rubio announced that the overwhelming majority of USAID projects are gone forever.
Including disease-detection and outbreak response abroad.
They cut Ebola prevention funding…the day after they promised they didn’t.
It’s been scrubbed clean.
And hours ago Rubio announced that the overwhelming majority of USAID projects are gone forever.
Including disease-detection and outbreak response abroad.
They cut Ebola prevention funding…the day after they promised they didn’t.
March 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This is USAID’s page on X.
It’s been scrubbed clean.
And hours ago Rubio announced that the overwhelming majority of USAID projects are gone forever.
Including disease-detection and outbreak response abroad.
They cut Ebola prevention funding…the day after they promised they didn’t.
It’s been scrubbed clean.
And hours ago Rubio announced that the overwhelming majority of USAID projects are gone forever.
Including disease-detection and outbreak response abroad.
They cut Ebola prevention funding…the day after they promised they didn’t.
Imagine this dysfunction ⬇️ …
but for all of global health. Where the stakes are MUCH higher.
Feeding USAID “into the wood chipper”, withdrawing from WHO, and muzzling the CDC are all short-sighted moves that’ll make us less safe.
We will regret this.
but for all of global health. Where the stakes are MUCH higher.
Feeding USAID “into the wood chipper”, withdrawing from WHO, and muzzling the CDC are all short-sighted moves that’ll make us less safe.
We will regret this.
March 10, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Imagine this dysfunction ⬇️ …
but for all of global health. Where the stakes are MUCH higher.
Feeding USAID “into the wood chipper”, withdrawing from WHO, and muzzling the CDC are all short-sighted moves that’ll make us less safe.
We will regret this.
but for all of global health. Where the stakes are MUCH higher.
Feeding USAID “into the wood chipper”, withdrawing from WHO, and muzzling the CDC are all short-sighted moves that’ll make us less safe.
We will regret this.