Over the last month, Pennsylvania has seen tragic and concerning health events, with several reports of deaths attributed to measles. The news comes more than two decades after the United States declared measles eliminated in 2000, and there has been significant discussion around the circumstances surrounding these deaths. As someone who proudly lives and works in this state, I can’t move past that without saying something.
Pennsylvania has now confirmed 393 measles cases across 28 counties in 2026, and for too many people across this state, this outbreak has stopped feeling like a news story and started feeling like a threat to our children, families, and neighbors. What makes this so painful is that we have long had a vaccine that can help prevent measles. The MMR vaccine has been used for decades and remains an important tool for protecting children and communities.
The reported deaths are a tragedy, but they should also prompt us to take a closer look at where things are headed if we don’t change course. That starts with making sure families have clear, reliable information about how to protect themselves and their children.
Mixed messages from national leaders, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have made it harder for families to know what to trust. The administration has also taken steps to reconsider how the MMR vaccine is administered, including an executive order directing federal health officials to work toward separating the combined MMR vaccine into individual shots. For families already trying to navigate an outbreak, added uncertainty can make an already difficult situation even harder.
We should take these developments seriously. Our communities deserve clear information, sound science, and leaders who will do everything they can to protect the health and safety of our children and families.
