Trump's Surgeon General Nominee Praises MMR, Hepatitis B Vaccines at Senate Hearing

Nicole Saphier, President Trump's nominee for U.S. surgeon general, spoke favorably about the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine during testimony before a Senate committee, according to a report from Scientific American.

The report noted that Saphier's remarks on the vaccines' safety and effectiveness contrasted with statements previously made by President Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., both of whom have made claims about the vaccines that the publication characterized as false regarding their efficacy and safety.

Saphier's nomination for the role of surgeon general requires Senate confirmation. The position serves as the leading spokesperson on public health matters for the federal government, and nominees are typically questioned on health policy positions, including vaccine guidance, during confirmation hearings.

Kennedy, who leads HHS, has a documented history of expressing skepticism about certain vaccines, a stance that has drawn scrutiny from public health experts and media outlets. Trump has also made public comments regarding vaccines that have been disputed by health authorities and outlets covering the administration's health policy.

Scientific American's report did not provide further details on the full scope of Saphier's testimony or additional context from the hearing in the excerpt available. Further specifics of the exchange, including direct quotations from Saphier's testimony, were included in the original report published by Scientific American.

The confirmation hearing comes amid ongoing public debate over vaccine policy within the Trump administration, with HHS leadership under Kennedy previously associated with questioning established vaccine science.