Pennsylvania health officials brace for expected spread of measles outbreak

I found this recent article informative:

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/04/pennsylvania-health-officials-measles-outbreak

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And wanted to add some additional information, given the multicultural area we live and the recent local high school closing:

This information is from PA Health Alert Network dated 08/24/2026

In general, people born before 1957 and people with two doses of the MMR vaccine, given after the first birthday, spaced at least 28 days apart, have lifelong immunity and do not require an additional booster dose of the MMR vaccine.

Adults born in 1957 or later without evidence of immunity should receive one dose of MMR immediately, followed by a second dose at least 28 days later.

• Adults born before 1957 are generally considered immune.

• In the context of an outbreak or international travel, adults who received the inactivated (killed) measles vaccine available from 1963-1967 should be considered unvaccinated and revaccinated with a total of 2 post-1967 MMR doses.

Many people born after 1957 don't have vaccine records and don't know which type of vaccine they received. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the office. We can help decide if to do blood tests or consider getting a booster.

IF you have had contact with an individual having or suspected to have measles, the PA Health Alert Network has the following recommendation:

Maintain a high index of suspicion for measles in patients presenting with fever and rash, especially in those who are unvaccinated. Consider measles as a diagnosis in anyone: • With a febrile rash illness lasting three days or more,

• With a temperature of 101ºF (38.3ºC) or higher, and clinically compatible symptoms (cough, coryza and/or conjunctivitis),

• Potentially exposed to a person with measles-like illness or recently traveled to a domestic area or an international area with an ongoing measles risk and have not been vaccinated for measles.

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