Two unvaccinated people have died from measles in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, marking the first fatalities from the virus in the United States this year and the first in the commonwealth in 35 years, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. State Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen declined to release additional information regarding the deaths during a media briefing, citing patient confidentiality.
Lancaster County Outbreak Metrics and Hospitalizations
Lancaster County accounts for the majority of cases in Pennsylvania’s ongoing measles outbreak. State health data confirmed 393 total cases as of Tuesday, with 86 of those diagnoses occurring within the preceding week. Hospitalizations have reached 70 patients statewide due to measles complications, according to the health department.
“These tragic deaths remind us that measles is not a harmless illness,” Dr. Jeffrey Martin, a physician at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, said during a media briefing held at Lancaster General Health’s Women & Babies Hospital. Dr. Martin noted that pregnant women and children face heightened vulnerability to the virus if they remain unvaccinated, though health officials declined to specify whether the deceased individuals included a pregnant woman or an infant.
Did You Know? The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine delivers about 97% protection against measles, typically lasting a lifetime, when administered in two doses around age 1 and age 5 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Federal Vaccine Policies and State Pushback
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the number of routine vaccines recommended for children, a policy supported by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The decision drew criticism from pediatricians and public health organizations.
During the Tuesday briefing, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stated that Kennedy called him to offer state-level resources for managing the outbreak, an offer Shapiro rejected. “I was very, very blunt with him, and I made very clear that his actions and the rhetoric that’s coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America, particularly right here in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. An HHS spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the deaths.
National Trends in Vaccine Exemptions
Public health records show climbing rates of non-medical vaccine exemptions alongside dropping immunization coverage. CDC data for the 2025–26 school year indicates that 4.2% of kindergartners—approximately 155,000 children—held at least one vaccine exemption, rising from 3.6% the prior school year.
In Lancaster County, MMR vaccination rates dropped steadily from 95.5% in 2017 to 87.6% in 2025. Nationally, the CDC reports 2,777 measles cases this year, representing the highest annual total in 35 years. Approximately 7% of infected individuals, or 193 people, required hospitalization as of August 20, with the vast majority of cases occurring in unvaccinated patients. By comparison, three measles deaths occurred nationwide last year, involving an adult in New Mexico and two young girls in Texas.
Expert Recommendations for Community Immunity
Medical groups continue to urge parents to verify vaccination status with pediatricians, particularly as local immunity levels decline. Infants as young as six months old can receive an early, supplemental dose of the MMR vaccine during active outbreaks.
“When enough eligible individuals receive the vaccine, the entire community develops a level of immunity that protects our most vulnerable, including babies who are too young to be vaccinated,” Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, wrote in a statement. “I encourage all parents and caregivers to talk with your pediatrician and ask if your child is up-to-date on their MMR vaccine.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How effective is the MMR vaccine?
Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide approximately 97% protection against measles, according to federal health data.
Can infants receive the measles vaccine early?
Yes. Children as young as six months old are eligible for an early, extra dose of the MMR vaccine during active community outbreaks, according to public health guidelines.