Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated during Senate testimony on Wednesday that his department advises all children to receive the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Kennedy made the remarks before the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions as part of hearings on the proposed 2027 HHS budget. "We promote the M.M.R.," he said. "We have advised every child to get the M.M.R. That's what we do." He added, "We promote the MMR. We advise every child to get the MMR."

The comments came amid record measles cases in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,286 cases in 2025, the highest in more than three decades, and over 1,700 cases so far this year. Kennedy described the MMR vaccine as "97% effective in preventing measles in recipients." He denied responsibility for the outbreaks, attributing them to global trends. "I have nothing to do with the measles outbreak," he said, noting higher cases in countries like Mexico and Canada. "We have limited our outbreak better than any country in the world."

Democrats pressed Kennedy on his past vaccine skepticism and recent changes to childhood immunization guidelines. Earlier this year, HHS altered the schedule, removing universal recommendations for some vaccines while retaining MMR, polio, pertussis, tetanus and others. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) accused Kennedy of making parents doubt vaccines. "Vaccines save lives in America," Wyden said. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) questioned his handling of outbreaks and flu deaths.

Republicans offered support. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) praised Kennedy's leadership in aiding South Carolina's outbreak response, which HHS supported with $1.4 million. The outbreak there nears resolution. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chairman of the Senate health committee, challenged Kennedy on historical data about disease declines but focused on context.

Kennedy has shifted from earlier positions. During a 2025 Texas outbreak, he called vaccination a "personal choice." Last week, he called the measles vaccine "safe and effective for most people." He emphasized HHS ensures vaccines are accessible.

The testimony capped a week of seven Capitol Hill appearances for Kennedy, who oversees CDC efforts amid leadership changes. Over 90% of recent cases occurred among unvaccinated individuals.