The United States has recorded its highest number of measles infections in 35 years, prompting the country’s Health Secretary, Robert Kennedy, to publicly urge parents to vaccinate their children against the highly contagious disease.
Mr Kennedy made the appeal during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, saying parents should ensure their children receive the measles vaccine as infections continue to rise across the country.
“Parents should get their children vaccinated for measles. A measles vaccine is effective. It stops measles in about 97 per cent of the cases. People should get vaccinated,” he said.
His remarks came after the US officially recorded 2,371 confirmed measles cases this year, surpassing the 2,289 cases reported throughout 2025. The latest figure marks the highest annual number of infections since 1991.
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The sharp increase means the US has recorded more measles cases over the past two years than during the rest of the 21st century combined, raising concerns among public health experts that the country could lose its measles elimination status, which it has maintained since 2000.
Contrasting message
Mr Kennedy’s endorsement of measles vaccination marks a notable departure from his longstanding criticism of vaccines.
Before becoming Health Secretary under President Donald Trump, Mr Kennedy was one of the country’s most prominent vaccine sceptics, repeatedly questioning the safety and effectiveness of vaccines and amplifying misinformation about the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Even after assuming office, he continued to describe vaccination as a personal choice while making inaccurate claims about declining vaccine effectiveness.
During the interview, he also encouraged Americans to receive the combined MMR vaccine, the primary protection against measles.
However, he rejected suggestions that his previous anti-vaccine advocacy had contributed to the current outbreak.
Asked whether he accepted responsibility for the surge in infections, Mr Kennedy replied: “Absolutely not.”
Instead, he blamed outbreaks on religious communities with low vaccination rates and broader global health conditions.
Scientists disagree
The interview also drew criticism after Mr Kennedy repeated several claims that scientists say are not supported by evidence.
He suggested that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Lyme disease originated from laboratory manipulation of pathogens, despite decades of scientific research indicating both diseases have natural origins.
He also repeated unproven claims linking the use of Tylenol during pregnancy to autism and questioned the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines for children.
Responding later on the programme, Ashish Jha, who served as the White House Covid-19 response coordinator under former President Joe Biden, welcomed Mr Kennedy’s endorsement of the MMR vaccine but criticised many of his other statements.
Mr Jha said the surge in measles cases reflected insufficient government efforts to promote vaccination and educate the public about the risks of the disease.
He said the administration had not done enough to encourage vaccine uptake or communicate the dangers posed by measles.
Growing concern
The US has recorded 37 measles outbreaks so far this year, placing its measles elimination status at risk.
Measles is one of the world’s most contagious viral diseases, but it is preventable through vaccination. Health authorities have consistently maintained that two doses of the MMR vaccine provide about 97 per cent protection against infection.
The resurgence of measles in the US comes as Nigeria continues to battle periodic outbreaks of the vaccine-preventable disease.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), measles remains endemic in the country, with outbreaks reported almost every year, particularly in states with low routine immunisation coverage.
Nigeria also accounts for one of the highest numbers of children who have not received routine vaccines globally, making sustained immunisation campaigns critical to preventing outbreaks.