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The teenager's story was published in December 2018
A teenager who makes headlines for getting vaccinated despite his family's wishes.
Ethan Lindenberger, from Ohio, sought after immunizations.
Federal data suggests the proportion of US children under two years of age being quadrupled since 2001.
Doctors at the hearing blamed online misinformation and discredited science for scaring parents away from vaccines.
Mr Lindenberger, who is still a senior in high school, spoke on Tuesday at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, who are experts in the field.
He said much of his mother's opposition to routine vaccines cam from fear they could cause side-effects like brain damage or autism.
In 1998, a British doctor Andrew Wakefield incorrectly linked the MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine to autism. His research has since been completely discredited and Mr Wakefield has been struck off by the global anti-vaccination community.
All of the doctors at the time of the day were "absolutely no evidence" that exists which supports the link.
This is also affirmed in new Danish research released on Tuesday. The study examined 650,000 children over 10 years and categorically concludes that MMR does not increase the risk of autism or trigger it in those susceptible.
Mr Lindenbenger, Doctors and Members of Congress at the hearing all pointed out the internet fuels the spread of misinformation.
"My mother would turn to anti-vax groups online and social media," the teenager told the hearing.
He also pointed out his mother 's decision had come from concern, not malice.
"There is a lot of emotional appealing families, children and parents, and they are very dangerous," he said.
"That's the issue I take in. I'm not sure they're stupid for believing, but people are very convincing and that's very dangerous."
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Some anti-vaccination advocates also attended the hearing
Mr Lindenberger's story went viral in late 2018 when he asked for a forum Reddit about the subject.
Republican Senator Johnny Isakson at the point during Tuesday's hearing, he would love to be a guest at the Linderberger family home for Thanksgiving dinner.
"Would be a heck of a discussion everyone would have," he said about the family's public disagreement.
Health experts have long warned about the risk posed by parents who do not vaccinate.
They say the decision affects not only their families but everyone else because of high immunization rates.
This concept, which is known to have immunity, offers protection for people with newborns and people with autoimmune diseases who are not able to be vaccinated.
The US has been battling a number of outbreaks of preventable diseases in recent years.
Senator Patty Murray, from Washington State, spoke at a recent measles outbreak in Clark County where 70 cases were confirmed.
Less than 80% of nursery-age children were immunized there in 2017. – about 95% for herd immunity.
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At Tuesday's hearing, doctors implored the federal government to increase funding for vaccine education. They also asked for state immunization exemptions for non-medical vaccination exemptions for parents.
California is one state that has already cracked down on exemptions, following the outbreak of measles linked to Disneyland in 2015.
Similar outbreaks are not isolated to the US – there have been increases recorded elsewhere around the world.
In 2018, Europe saw three times more measles than the year before.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has blamed the vaccine for hesitancy.
"WHO is Dr Martin Friede told the BBC after the data was released.
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