NIH Director Urges Childhood Vaccination As Measles Hits 35-Year High
On Sunday, August 9, 2026, NIH director and acting CDC chief Jay Bhattacharya urged parents on Face the Nation to vaccinate children as measles reached its highest U.S. level in 35 years.[1]
Bhattacharya said he "trusts the science" on standard childhood vaccines and that he has vaccinated his own children.[1] He noted that only 10 states met the 95% kindergarten coverage threshold for measles herd immunity in the 2024-2025 school year and that multiple outbreaks have been addressed or sharply declined.[1] He said his on-camera measles vaccination recommendation in February 2026 helped end an outbreak in South Carolina and pointed to major outbreaks in Texas, Arizona, Utah, Virginia and Pennsylvania.[1]
The U.S. is seeing its highest measles caseload in 35 years, driven in part by gaps in childhood vaccination coverage.[1] Bhattacharya confirmed the White House is drafting an executive order on childhood vaccines and autism, and he said NIH is funding research into the complex causes of rising autism rates without a definitive answer yet.[1]
He warned that fearmongering about unvaccinated classmates and tying autism research to vaccine debates can erode public trust and discourage scientists from working on autism.[1] Bhattacharya's remarks come as public health officials seek to restore confidence in routine immunizations amid resurgent measles.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Sunday, August 9, 2026, NIH director and acting CDC chief Jay Bhattacharya told "Face the Nation" that he "trusts the science" on standard childhood vaccines and has vaccinated his own children.
- Bhattacharya urged parents to vaccinate children against measles, DTP and other routine illnesses, noting measles cases are at their highest U.S. level in 35 years and that only 10 states met the 95% kindergarten coverage threshold for measles herd immunity in the 2024‑2025 school year.
- He said his February 2026 on‑camera recommendation for measles vaccination helped end an outbreak in South Carolina and cited major outbreaks in Texas, Arizona, Utah, Virginia and Pennsylvania that he says have since been addressed or are sharply declining.
- Bhattacharya confirmed the White House is drafting an executive order on childhood vaccines and autism, said it is not yet complete, and stressed that NIH is funding research into the complex causes of rising autism rates without having a definitive answer yet.
- He warned that fearmongering about unvaccinated classmates and conflating autism research with vaccine debates can erode public trust and discourage scientists from working on autism.
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