On August 2, 2026, US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, said during a TV interview that American parents should get their children vaccinated against measles, as the surge in infections has reached numbers not seen in the past 35 years. In fact, the US has officially recorded 2,371 confirmed infections so far this year, already exceeding the 2025 year’s total of 2,289. When added together, the past two years have seen more measles infections in the US than the rest of the 21st century combined. The last time a greater number of measles cases were recorded in a single year was in 1991.
Sec. Kennedy, who has been a leading vaccination skeptic and has misinformed the public regarding the vaccination that protects against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), said, “Parents should get their children vaccinated for measles. A measles vaccine is effective, it stops measles in about 97% of the cases. People should get vaccinated.”
While the CDC considers the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella safe and effective, the vaccination rate among school-aged children has fallen in recent years in the face of political division. In fact, Florida’s state surgeon general mounted an effort to end all vaccine mandates, including those required for schoolchildren.
As measles cases climb, several national, state, and local organizations and health departments are providing guidance for schools. The CDC offers a checklist for how K-12 schools can respond when a student or employee exhibits measles symptoms.
Sources: The Guardian and K-12 Dive