Lead
On Feb. 9, 2026, Dr. Mehmet Oz, director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, urged Americans to get the measles vaccine as an outbreak in South Carolina exceeded 900 confirmed cases. His public plea—delivered on national television—came amid mounting concern that the United States could lose its measles elimination status after widespread transmission in 2025. Dr. Oz pledged there would be no barrier to vaccine access, framing vaccination as the straightforward response to the escalating outbreak. The appeal stands in contrast to mixed messages from other federal officials.
Key Takeaways
- South Carolina has reported more than 900 confirmed measles cases in the current outbreak, the largest U.S. cluster in recent history.
- The MMR vaccine is about 97 percent effective at preventing measles infection when both doses are received.
- U.S. measles elimination status has been in place since 2000; sustained domestic spread risks that designation.
- Thousands of measles infections were recorded nationally in 2025, and early 2026 trends show continued high transmissibility.
- Dr. Oz, speaking Feb. 9, 2026, said, in effect, there is a single clear intervention: vaccination, and pledged no access barriers.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has described the vaccine as “crucial to avoiding potentially deadly disease” while also raising safety questions and emphasizing personal choice.
- Infectious-disease experts warn that heterogeneous coverage and public confusion can prolong outbreaks and increase hospitalizations.
Background
Measles is among the most contagious viral diseases known; a single case in an underimmunized community can generate large secondary waves. Since 2000 the United States had maintained measles elimination, defined as absence of continuous endemic transmission for 12 months or more. That status depends on consistently high vaccine coverage—often cited as roughly 95 percent—to maintain herd immunity.
The epidemiology shifted beginning in 2024 and into 2025, when clusters related to international importations, declining local coverage, and pockets of vaccine hesitancy produced thousands of U.S. cases. State and local health departments have responded with outbreak declarations, targeted vaccination clinics, and school-entry enforcement in some jurisdictions. At the federal level, public commentary from senior officials has been uneven, complicating public health messaging.
Main Event
On Feb. 9, 2026, Dr. Mehmet Oz used an appearance on CNN to press for immediate vaccination as South Carolina confronted its largest measles cluster on record. He told viewers the solution was straightforward—get vaccinated—and added that the federal government would work to ensure access to the MMR vaccine. The remarks represented one of the strongest explicit pro-vaccine statements from a senior official within the administration.
The South Carolina outbreak has spread through multiple counties and affected children and adults, prompting school closures in some districts and surge vaccination clinics. Local public health teams have mobilized contact tracing and community outreach, while state officials sought additional vaccine shipments and logistical support. Hospital systems in affected areas have reported increased pediatric visits for febrile rash illnesses.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s public statements have been more ambivalent: he has called the vaccine important to prevent severe disease but has also publicly raised concerns about vaccine safety and emphasized individual choice. That mixed messaging has drawn scrutiny from public health specialists, who say consistent, evidence-based guidance is critical to raising coverage quickly during an outbreak.
Analysis & Implications
Rapid containment of measles outbreaks depends on both high routine vaccination coverage and prompt targeted response when cases appear. The current South Carolina cluster demonstrates how quickly measles can exploit gaps in immunity; communities with lower two-dose MMR coverage are especially vulnerable. If the virus achieves sustained chains of transmission that persist beyond 12 months, the U.S. could lose its elimination designation, which would have implications for international travel advisories and resource prioritization.
Mixed signals from national leaders risk undermining public confidence at a moment when clear guidance is needed. Public health campaigns rely on consistent messaging about vaccine safety, effectiveness, and access. When senior officials offer contradictory emphases—calling a vaccine both “crucial” and a matter of pure personal choice—local health departments must compensate with increased outreach, which strains limited personnel and budgets.
Economically, prolonged outbreaks increase healthcare utilization: more clinic visits, more diagnostic testing, and potential hospitalizations for complications like pneumonia or encephalitis. That creates downstream costs for families and health systems, particularly in underresourced areas. Politically, the outbreak could renew debates over school-entry vaccine requirements, exemption policies, and federal support for state immunization programs.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Known 2025 | South Carolina, early 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Total confirmed cases (U.S.) | Thousands (national surge in 2025) | More than 900 confirmed cases |
| MMR vaccine effectiveness | Approximately 97% with two doses | Same |
| Elimination status | Held since 2000 | At risk if sustained spread continues |
The table summarizes confirmed facts: 2025 saw a national surge described as “thousands” of infections, while the current South Carolina outbreak has surpassed 900 confirmed cases. Vaccine effectiveness and the historical elimination benchmark are established measures that frame why high coverage matters. Public health officials monitor these indicators to decide on mass vaccination clinics, school exclusion policies, and resource allocation.
Reactions & Quotes
Public health and scientific voices largely framed Dr. Oz’s message as a necessary, urgent reminder about vaccination, while some political actors highlighted differing views on individual choice and safety. Local officials emphasized operational steps to expand access to the MMR vaccine and to educate communities most affected.
Take the vaccine, please.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS director
Dr. Oz made an emphatic, plain-language appeal during his broadcast appearance, and reiterated a pledge that there would be no barrier to Americans getting the measles vaccine. That direct instruction was intended to cut through hesitancy and spur immediate action.
It is crucial to avoiding potentially deadly disease.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary Kennedy has used language that affirms the vaccine’s role in preventing severe illness while also publicly raising safety concerns in other settings; public health officials say such dual framing can confuse families deciding whether to vaccinate.
It’s like taking a garden hose to a forest fire.
Michael Osterholm, infectious disease expert, University of Minnesota
Osterholm’s analogy, cited by experts and press accounts, was offered to underscore the scale of interventions needed when measles spreads widely; he warned that limited or piecemeal measures are unlikely to halt large outbreaks quickly.
Unconfirmed
- Whether specific public remarks by senior officials directly changed vaccine uptake in any particular community remains unconfirmed and would require survey or administrative data to verify.
- Day-to-day national case totals for 2026 beyond the South Carolina cluster were not yet consolidated in a single public dataset at the time of reporting.
Bottom Line
The immediate public-health prescription is clear and evidence-based: increase MMR vaccine coverage rapidly in affected communities to halt transmission. South Carolina’s outbreak—now over 900 cases—illustrates how quickly measles can exploit immunity gaps and why sustained high coverage matters to preserve elimination status.
Policy and communication choices in the coming weeks will shape the outbreak’s trajectory. Consistent, accessible messaging paired with easy local access to vaccination are the fastest path to containing spread and reducing hospitalizations; mixed or ambivalent signals from leaders can slow that progress.
Sources
- The New York Times (news report)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (official public health guidance)
- CIDRAP / University of Minnesota (academic/expert commentary)