Summary
Two unvaccinated people have died from measles in Pennsylvania amid a large outbreak of the disease in the US. Measles cases are the highest in 35 years, with lower vaccination rates contributing to the spread.Key Facts
- Two unvaccinated people died of measles in Pennsylvania.
- Pennsylvania has had 393 measles cases in 2026 so far.
- The US reported 2,777 confirmed measles cases by July 2026, up from 2,289 last year.
- About 85% of kindergarteners in Lancaster County are vaccinated, below the 95% needed for herd immunity. Herd immunity helps stop the spread and protects people with weak immune systems.
- The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, and is about 97% effective with two doses given between ages one and six.
- Vaccine hesitancy, or people choosing not to vaccinate, has increased in recent years in the US.
- President Trump signed an executive order calling for fewer childhood vaccinations and splitting the MMR vaccine into three shots, which public health experts worry may cause confusion.
- Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has changed vaccine policies and shared mixed messages about the MMR vaccine’s safety; some changes have been blocked by courts.
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