Measles Vaccination Push
Health Officials Urge Vaccinations Following New Measles Confirmations Across Multiple States
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Allen County health officials are urging residents to check their immunization status after measles cases were confirmed in an unvaccinated minor there and in neighboring Adams County; the Allen County case is the first since a small outbreak in spring 2025. In Allen County, 90% of kindergartners have received MMR, but only 58% of children ages 3 to 19 are up to date on recommended childhood vaccines, below the state average of 63%; measles herd immunity generally requires 95% coverage. The MMR vaccine is about 93% effective after one dose and 97% after two, and higher vaccination rates help protect infants and others who are vulnerable. Local providers are encouraging vaccination, and people who suspect exposure or infection are advised to stay home and call a doctor or the health department. Separately, amid a Pennsylvania outbreak with nearly 830 cases and four deaths, some pediatricians are offering an early MMR dose to infants ages 6 to 11 months; that dose does not replace the routine doses given later.
Key Points
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Measles can remain airborne for up to two hours, and about nine in 10 people who have close contact with an infected person are expected to become infected.
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Although 90% of Allen County kindergartners have received MMR, 85% meet the state’s immunization requirements, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
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Super Shot says it is prioritizing people seeking an MMR shot—even when appointments are unavailable—and will find a way to see them, according to executive director Connie Heflin.
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Allen County health officials said the specific reasons for the county’s lower childhood vaccination rate are unknown; Administrator Mindy Waldron warned that lower coverage leaves more opportunity for measles and other diseases to spread.
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