Longtime vaccine sceptic RFK Jr. makes a striking U-turn, urging parents to vaccinate children against measles as US cases hit 2,371 – the highest in 35 years – amid ongoing outbreaks and falling immunisation rates.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent and longtime critic of vaccines, on Sunday publicly urged parents to get their children vaccinated against measles, marking a notable shift in tone as the country records its worst outbreak of the disease in 35 years.
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Kennedy told viewers: “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 also endorsed the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shot.
The comments came as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 2,371 measles cases so far in 2026 – already surpassing the full-year total of 2,289 cases recorded in 2025 and the highest annual figure since 1991. Cases have been reported in 45 jurisdictions, with 93 per cent occurring in people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
A High-Profile Shift from a Known Skeptic
Kennedy has spent years amplifying doubts about vaccine safety and efficacy, including the MMR vaccine. He founded and previously led Children’s Health Defense, an organisation that has promoted claims linking vaccines to autism and other harms – claims repeatedly rejected by the scientific consensus. As health secretary, he has continued to question aspects of the childhood immunisation schedule and downplayed the severity of measles in earlier statements.
His Sunday remarks therefore represent a clear public U-turn. Pressed by host Dana Bash to use his platform ahead of the new school year, Kennedy affirmed the vaccine’s effectiveness. He stopped short of accepting any personal responsibility for the surge in cases, telling Bash he took “absolutely not” any blame.
Public health experts have long linked the rise in measles to declining vaccination rates, which they say have been worsened by high-profile scepticism from figures including Kennedy. National kindergarten MMR coverage has fallen to 92.5 per cent, below the 95 per cent level needed for herd immunity. In some communities the rate is significantly lower.
Outbreaks Spread Across States
Major clusters have driven the national tally. South Carolina experienced a large outbreak that began in late 2025 and eventually sickened hundreds before being declared over. Utah has reported more than 500 cases this year, with transmission continuing across the state. Significant activity has also been recorded in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Arizona and elsewhere. Roughly 20 per cent of 2026 cases involve children under five, and nearly half are among those aged 5 to 19. About 7 per cent of patients have been hospitalised. No deaths have been reported so far this year, compared with three in 2025.
Almost all infections have been acquired within the United States. Only a small number are linked to international travel. Officials note that the true number of cases is likely higher than reported, as not everyone seeks testing or medical care.
Elimination Status at Risk
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 after sustained high vaccination coverage ended continuous domestic transmission. That status is now under threat. The Pan American Health Organization is expected to review later this year whether ongoing chains of transmission mean the US – and Mexico – have lost elimination status. Losing the designation would mark a major public-health reversal.
Measles remains highly contagious. The virus spreads through the air and can linger in indoor spaces for hours. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide approximately 97 per cent protection. Complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis and, in rare cases, death – risks that fall disproportionately on young children and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
Mixed Messages and Public Trust
Kennedy’s department continues to officially recommend the MMR vaccine for children, in line with longstanding CDC guidance. Yet his earlier mixed messaging – emphasising personal choice, questioning safety data, and at times promoting alternative approaches – has drawn sharp criticism from doctors and public-health leaders who argue it has undermined confidence in routine immunisation.
Some observers welcomed Sunday’s clearer endorsement as a constructive step. Others noted that a single interview is unlikely to reverse years of eroded trust or close the coverage gaps that have allowed measles to rebound so sharply.
With the school year approaching and cases still rising, health officials stress that raising vaccination rates remains the most effective way to stop further spread. Whether Kennedy’s latest comments help accelerate that effort will be closely watched in the months ahead.
