Measles Outbreak Prompts Oz to Urge Vaccination
Dr. Mehmet Oz urged vaccination and said Medicare and Medicaid will cover measles shots as South Carolina reports 876 confirmed cases.
Overview
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, urged Americans to "Take the vaccine, please" in a televised CNN interview and said Medicare and Medicaid will continue to cover the measles vaccine.
The South Carolina Department of Health reported 876 confirmed measles cases and at least 19 hospitalizations, including several children with encephalitis, state epidemiologist Linda Bell said in a Feb. 4 briefing.
Spartanburg County reported a 162% increase in MMR vaccinations in January compared with last year, and state officials said statewide vaccinations rose 72%.
CDC records show 2,267 confirmed U.S. measles cases in 2025 and, according to CDC and state records, about 3,000 reported U.S. measles cases since early 2025 with cases confirmed in at least 15 states so far in 2026.
The Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert on Feb. 3, 2026 and said it will consider the United States' measles elimination status in April, a review that William Moss, MD, warned could determine whether measles becomes endemic and that complications such as SSPE and immune amnesia may appear months or years later.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story as a public-health urgency validating vaccination while portraying administration vaccine skepticism as risky. Language choices (e.g., “unfounded”), prioritization of scientific experts and outbreak data, and quote curation—like juxtaposing Kennedy’s trivial TV remarks with investigative reporting—collectively steer readers to that conclusion.
Sources (11)
FAQ
As of February 6, 2026, South Carolina has reported 920 confirmed measles cases in the Upstate outbreak.
As of February 5, 2026, the CDC reported 733 confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2026.
Dr. Mehmet Oz urged Americans to 'Take the vaccine, please' and stated that Medicare and Medicaid will continue to cover the measles vaccine.
In January 2026, statewide measles vaccinations rose 72% with over 16,800 doses administered, and Spartanburg County saw a 162% increase compared to January 2025.
The US is on track to exceed 2025's 2,276 cases, potentially losing its measles elimination status gained in 2000, with PAHO reviewing in April 2026.
History
6 sources