Four fully vaccinated people test positive for measles, Pennsylvania secretary of health says
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen said four fully vaccinated people tested positive for measles, the first such cases identified during the outbreak.
Bogen made the announcement during a live update that was streamed Friday afternoon. You can watch the full update in the video player above.
The fully vaccinated people who tested positive were three adults and one child from Centre, Jefferson, Lancaster, and Lycoming counties, and none were hospitalized.
Bogen said breakthrough cases are rare. Nationwide, about 3% of measles cases this year have been in fully vaccinated people. Even when they do occur, illness is usually milder, with fewer complications, fewer hospitalizations, and less transmission than in unvaccinated people.
More than 99% of measles cases in this outbreak have been in unvaccinated people, and all hospitalized patients were unvaccinated.
Bogen said the few cases among vaccinated people do not change the fact that two doses of MMR remain the best protection against measles.
Total number of measles cases in Pa.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen said the Commonwealth has been battling a highly contagious but preventable measles outbreak since late April. As of Sept. 11, the state had confirmed 676 cases across 37 counties with 124 hospitalizations. Two measles-associated deaths were reported in Lancaster County.
Around 100 new measles cases were added statewide in the last week.
Bogen said the state is tracking the outbreak closely to provide clarity, not alarm, and to help residents, providers, and local leaders understand the virus and how to protect themselves and their communities.
Why measles is so dangerous
Measles is one of the most contagious human viruses. Up to nine out of ten unvaccinated or non-immune people exposed to the virus can become infected. The virus can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
Symptoms usually appear 7–21 days after exposure.Early symptoms include:FeverCoughRunny noseRed, watery eyesA rash typically develops afterward, starting on the head and spreading downward.Measles can cause serious short- and long-term complications.Up to 20% of cases may require hospitalization.
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State response and vaccination efforts
Bogen said the Department of Health and its partners are responding urgently and carefully, with the MMR vaccine as the main tool. Two doses of MMR, given on or after 12 months of age, provide 97% protection against measles.
Since the outbreak began, state health staff have hosted more than 120 pop-up vaccination clinics in affected communities, including churches, fire halls, community centers, and homes. Nearly 4,300 MMR doses have been given through those clinics, and state health center staff have provided more than 6,300 doses this year overall. Dozens more clinics are scheduled in the coming weeks and months.
Anyone interested in hosting a clinic can call the Department of Health at (877) 724-3258. The state’s 59 health centers also have MMR vaccine available, and county and municipal health departments are offering vaccination as well.
Bogen said Pennsylvanians have responded strongly: health care providers typically administer about 25,000 MMR doses in a month, but that number rose to more than 46,000. She said that shows residents are stepping up to protect themselves and others.
What to do if you may have been exposed
If you think you were exposed and have measles symptoms, contact your health care provider before going to the office, so the virus is not spread to others.
Frequently asked questionsIf I already had two MMR doses, do I need another?
No. According to the CDC and standard medical guidance, people who received the usual two doses are considered fully vaccinated for life. The department does not recommend additional MMR doses for the general public.
Are Pennsylvania schools prepared?
Bogen said schools are prepared to respond to exposures, and students are well protected because vaccination rates are high. Nearly 93% of kindergarteners in Pennsylvania are fully vaccinated, with even higher rates in seventh and 12th grade. That creates strong community immunity in schools and helps protect children who cannot be vaccinated, such as those with weakened immune systems or infants at home.
The Department of Health has also worked with school districts year-round and recently provided guidance to hundreds of school nurses. A school vaccination resource tool is now available online so parents can see vaccination rates for thousands of schools across the Commonwealth.
Why wasn’t more information released about the two deaths in Lancaster County?
Bogen said state law and regulations require confidentiality for certain records, including the Vital Statistics Law and the Disease Prevention and Control Law. The department shared what it could to inform the public about the outbreak and emphasize how dangerous measles can be.