Chris Klomp, President Donald Trump’s pick to become the second-highest official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told senators on Tuesday that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is the country’s strongest tool against a measles outbreak that has produced the highest yearly case count since 1991.
“Unquestionably, the MMR vaccine is the single most effective public health tool that we have against measles,” Klomp said at his Senate Finance Committee hearing, according to MedPage Today. He cited 97% effectiveness after two doses and called vaccination “the single best thing that we can do” against the disease.
The statement comes as families in outbreak areas make daily decisions about school, child care, and doctor visits. It also follows an August executive order from President Trump calling for separate shots for each MMR component once such products are available, a move some senators said could confuse parents.
A Clear Vaccine Message, with Caveats
Klomp has served as HHS chief counselor since February and has directed the Center for Medicare at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services since April 2025. Asked about autism, he said that based on the evidence he has seen, he does not believe MMR vaccines cause autism. He added that the causes of autism remain unknown and that, as a country, this “should concern us greatly.”
Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the committee’s top Democrat, said Klomp’s answers would leave people confused and announced that he would oppose the nomination. Committee Chairman Mike Crapo of Idaho told Klomp he had met all of the committee’s vetting standards and was well qualified for the job.
Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire pressed Klomp on the August executive order on childhood vaccines and asked whether parents should rely on their doctors’ advice instead. Klomp did not answer directly, saying the department must research so it can tell parents what is most effective and most honest. According to Politico, he also called fighting the outbreak “an absolute top priority” for the department and said parents should discuss vaccines with their children’s pediatricians.
Pressed on a claim that the vaccine contains fetal tissue, Klomp said he was not a vaccine expert but did not believe today’s MMR shot contains it, Politico reported. The American Academy of Pediatrics has said that no fetal tissue remains in vaccines produced today.
The deputy secretary post is less visible than the secretary’s job but carries wide reach. The deputy helps run day-to-day operations across the department, which includes CMS, the CDC, the FDA, and the National Institutes of Health, so Klomp’s views could shape how federal agencies talk to families during outbreaks.
Klomp also appeared before the Senate health committee on Wednesday for a second, courtesy hearing. His nomination still needs a Finance Committee vote and confirmation by the full Senate, and his testimony does not change any official vaccine recommendation.
Record Case Counts Behind the Testimony
The CDC’s measles tracker reports 3,294 confirmed cases nationwide as of Sept. 10, compared with 2,289 in all of 2025. Cases have been reported in 47 jurisdictions, including New York City, California, Texas, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. About 95% of this year’s cases are tied to outbreaks, and the agency has counted 38 new outbreaks in 2026.
Pennsylvania is carrying the heaviest load. The state has reported 693 cases across 38 counties, 133 hospitalizations, and four measles-associated deaths, all announced since late August. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said the two most recent deaths, in Jefferson and Mifflin counties, involved unvaccinated residents. The CDC says national death records do not yet show any 2026 deaths with measles as the underlying cause, and the agency is working with state epidemiologists on a standard definition for measles deaths.
Vaccination gaps help explain the spread. CDC data show MMR coverage among kindergartners fell from 95.2% in the 2019 to 2020 school year to 92.4% in the 2025 to 2026 school year, leaving about 280,000 kindergartners at risk. Local rates can be far lower than state averages, which is why one case can spread quickly through a school.
Klomp also pointed to a global pattern, telling Wyden that vaccination rates are dropping worldwide, not just in the United States, as CNN reported. The CDC says measles is brought into the country every year by travelers, usually unvaccinated U.S. residents who were infected abroad.
Families Most at Risk and Steps to Take Now
Unvaccinated children face the greatest danger, along with infants too young for their first dose, pregnant people without immunity, and people with weakened immune systems. Adults are not exempt. Pennsylvania’s recent deaths included a 40-year-old woman with serious lung disease and an 18-year-old who developed a rare inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Measles usually starts with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that begins on the face. Anyone with those symptoms after a possible exposure should call a doctor, urgent care center, or health department before arriving so staff can protect others in the waiting room. Trouble breathing, confusion, seizures, or signs of dehydration require emergency care.
Parents can check vaccine records through their pediatrician or state immunization registry. The CDC recommends two doses for children, usually at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years. One dose is about 93% effective, and two doses raise protection to 97%. Adults who are unsure of their status can ask a clinician about a blood test or another dose.
Cost should not stop most families. The federal Vaccines for Children program provides the MMR vaccine at no cost to eligible children, and county health departments and community health centers offer shots to uninsured residents. International travelers should make sure they are protected at least two weeks before departure.
Current CDC guidance still recommends the combined two-dose MMR series. Parents with questions about the executive order should talk with their child’s clinician before delaying any dose, since a gap in protection during an active outbreak carries real risk.
The CDC updates its national measles count weekly. MedicalDaily will keep tracking state and federal counts as the outbreak and the confirmation process move forward.
Key Questions Answered
What did Chris Klomp say about the MMR vaccine?
At his Sept. 15 Senate Finance Committee hearing, Klomp called the MMR vaccine the single most effective public health tool against measles and cited 97% effectiveness after two doses. He also said he does not believe MMR vaccines cause autism.
Is Klomp now the deputy HHS secretary?
No. He is a nominee. The Senate Finance Committee must vote on his nomination, and the full Senate must confirm him before he can take the job.
Does his testimony change vaccine recommendations?
No. CDC guidance still recommends two MMR doses for children, usually at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years.
How many measles cases has the U.S. reported this year?
The CDC reports 3,294 confirmed cases as of Sept. 10, 2026, up from 2,289 in all of 2025. Pennsylvania has reported 693 cases and four measles-associated deaths.
Who faces the highest risk from measles?
Unvaccinated children, infants too young to be vaccinated, pregnant people without immunity, and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of serious illness.
Where can families get the MMR vaccine at low or no cost?
Eligible children can receive it free through the Vaccines for Children program. County health departments and community health centers also offer vaccines to uninsured residents.
