Today the CDC reported 2318 measles cases in the United States in 2026, surpassing the total number of cases from last year. AAP President Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP issued the following statement in response:
“Halfway into 2026 the U.S. is experiencing the worst year for measles since 1991. We are witnessing an avoidable crisis that disproportionally hurts children.
“These thousands of cases represent real people in communities across the country, including babies hospitalized with pneumonia, students who have missed weeks of school, and parents forced to miss work to stay home and care for sick children. After keeping measles under control for decades, the country has now experienced continuous outbreaks since January 2025. We should not accept this as our new normal. Unless we reverse this trend, America’s children will continue to pay the price.
“Two shots of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine MMR vaccination for all children. The more of us who are immunized, the more difficult it is for the virus to spread. It’s that simple.
“Since early last year, federal leaders have dismissed measles as benign and unavoidable and have spread misleading information about the MMR vaccine. Today, I want to remind parents that measles is not just a rash. The virus can interrupt the immune system’s memory, leaving a previously healthy child significantly more likely to get sick from any type of infection. Skipping or delaying the MMR vaccine is risky because pediatricians can’t predict which children will have serious symptoms from measles or who might end up in the hospital. If parents hear something that makes them curious or concerned about the MMR vaccine, I encourage them to talk with their child’s pediatrician or doctor to make sure they’re getting the facts.”
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
MMR recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
AAP recommends routine immunization against measles starting at age 1, and early vaccination for those living in or traveling to a community where there is an active outbreak.