Senate panel hears vaccine safety testimony from surgeon general pick
At her confirmation hearing, Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and Fox News personality nominated for U.S. surgeon general, stated that she has seen no repeatable evidence linking vaccines to autism and described the MMR shot as a key tool against measles. Her remarks contrast with false claims made by President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. about vaccine safety. The hearing comes amid a U.S. measles outbreak with nearly 3,300 confirmed cases this year.
Saphier's testimony diverges sharply from the vaccine positions of Trump and Kennedy, both of whom have repeatedly questioned shot safety. She told senators she cannot identify autism's cause and has encountered no dependable evidence implicating vaccines, while praising the MMR shot as essential for measles prevention.
The confirmation proceeding coincides with a severe measles outbreak — roughly 3,300 confirmed infections and four fatalities this year, the highest death count in over three decades. Saphier also backed routine hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, a practice Kennedy has moved to end, noting its role in preventing liver cancer. Advocacy groups have opposed her nomination, arguing her background lacks public health expertise.
If confirmed, Saphier's stance could shape federal health messaging during an active measles outbreak, potentially influencing parental decisions about childhood vaccinations. Her focus on individual responsibility rather than structural public health measures may affect how prevention campaigns are designed, particularly for communities relying on government guidance. The hearing's outcome could signal whether evidence-based vaccine recommendations retain authority within federal health leadership, with implications for outbreak containment efforts nationwide.