Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), urged Americans to get vaccinated against measles on Sunday, February 9, 2026, as cases continue to rise across the United States.
“Take the vaccine, please,” Oz said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We have a solution for our problem.” His call for vaccination comes as the nation risks losing its measles elimination status, a milestone achieved in 2000.
The urging from Oz is notable given that his boss, President Donald Trump, has previously raised questions about vaccine safety and efficacy, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Has a long history of skepticism towards vaccines. Oz defended both Trump and Kennedy, stating that Kennedy had specifically encouraged vaccination against measles during the recent outbreak in Texas.
“When the first outbreak happened in Texas, he said, get your vaccines for measles, because that’s an example of an ailment that you should get vaccinated against,” Oz said.
Measles outbreaks have infected more than 2,600 people since the beginning of 2025, with cases reported in all but six U.S. States. As of February 5, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had confirmed 733 cases in 20 states. However, state health officials are reporting higher numbers, with South Carolina reporting 920 cases as of February 3, 2026.
Vaccination rates have been declining in recent years. CDC data shows vaccination coverage among U.S. Kindergartners dropped from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 92.5% in the 2024–2025 school year, falling below the threshold needed for effective herd immunity.
Oz emphasized the seriousness of measles, stating, “Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses…But measles is one you should get your vaccine.” He also assured the public that Medicare and Medicaid will continue to cover the measles vaccine, ensuring access for all Americans.
The Republican administration last month revised some vaccine recommendations for children, following a request from Trump to review how other nations approach vaccine schedules. States retain the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren, but some, like Florida, are challenging federal guidance. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo has advocated for eliminating vaccine mandates, arguing that parents should have the final say in immunization decisions.
Kennedy’s past activism with the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense has drawn criticism, and his past statements questioning the link between vaccines and autism have been scrutinized. During Senate testimony, Kennedy has maintained that a link between vaccines and autism has not been disproven.
During a Senate hearing, Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health, stated that no single vaccine causes autism, but did not rule out the possibility that combinations of vaccines could have negative health effects.
The administration has also faced criticism for making unsubstantiated claims about health issues. In September, Trump asserted without evidence that Tylenol and vaccines are linked to autism.
