‘Take the vaccine, please,’ a top US health official says in an appeal as measles cases rise

February 9, 2026 - 03:06

A leading U.S. health official issued a direct and personal appeal on Sunday, urging Americans to get vaccinated against measles as outbreaks spread across several states. The nation now risks losing its hard-won status as a country that has eliminated the contagious virus.

The official emphasized that measles is not a benign childhood illness but a serious and highly contagious threat. Complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, and hospitalization. The recent surge in cases is directly linked to communities with low vaccination rates, leaving unvaccinated individuals, especially children, vulnerable.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine was highlighted as a safe and extraordinarily effective shield. Two doses of the vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing the disease. Health authorities stress that vaccination protects not only the individual but also those who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants and people with certain medical conditions, through community immunity.

The appeal comes as health departments work to contain active outbreaks. Officials are tracing exposures and implementing quarantine measures, but vaccination remains the fundamental and proven public health strategy to halt transmission and prevent further spread of the preventable disease.