Surgeon General pick Casey Means now says people should get vaccinated for measles

Casey Means, President Trump's nominee for surgeon general, clarified in written responses that she believes people should get the measles vaccine; the CDC reported 1,362 cases across 31 states as of March 12, 2026.

Casey Means, President Trump's nominee for surgeon general, clarified in written responses that she believes people should get the measles vaccine. She had faced criticism after a Feb. 25 confirmation hearing when she stopped short of broadly encouraging parents to vaccinate, while saying vaccinations "save lives." The clarification followed requests for more information from members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The article notes that CMS administrator Dr. Oz had urged Americans in early February to get vaccinated amid rising measles cases. Known details: - Means replied to HELP Committee questions and said she agreed with Dr. Oz's message that Americans should take the measles vaccine, according to MS NOW. - At her Feb. 25 hearing, Means said she supports vaccination but emphasized that patients and parents should talk with their pediatrician and did not broadly encourage vaccination at that time. - The CDC reported 1,362 measles cases across 31 states as of March 12, 2026, and the U.S. met 12 months of sustained spread on Jan. 20, placing its elimination status at risk. - MS NOW reported that Means described the outbreak as "largely preventable with the MMR vaccine" and quoted acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya saying the vaccine "remains the most reliable and effective way" to prevent the disease. Summary: Means's written clarification responds to concerns raised after her confirmation hearing and aligns her publicly with federal officials who have urged vaccination. Undetermined at this time.