Falling vaccination rates could leave Somerset vulnerable to measles outbreak
Fewer students getting immunized against measles could make southern Somerset County vulnerable to an outbreak of the highly contagious disease, according to state health department data. The good news is the number of measles cases in Somerset County as of Oct. 14 was 14 cases, no change from the previous week, according to the health…
Fewer students getting immunized against measles could make southern Somerset County vulnerable to an outbreak of the highly contagious disease, according to state health department data.
The good news is the number of measles cases in Somerset County as of Oct. 14 was 14 cases, no change from the previous week, according to the health department.
But kindergarten students at Meyersdale Elementary School have a measles vaccination rate of 93.5% this school year, down from 98.1% for 2017-2018, according to the health department. Doctors say that a vaccination rate of 95% is needed to prevent an outbreak from spreading quickly in the community.
Meyersdale superintendent Wayne L. Miller said this year’s kindergarten class was “the lowest we’ve ever had,” which affects overall vaccination rates.
“Even two or three unvaccinated kids will look pretty substantial,” he said.
There have been no reported cases this year in the district, he said, and school staff has been advised to have immunization records up to date in case of an outbreak.
A coverage rate of 95% is not a guarantee against a measles outbreak, but high coverage reduces the opportunity for the virus to circulate, doctors say.
“Measles is just much more than a fever and a rash – much, much more dangerous,” said Matthew Perry, director of the department of emergency medicine at Conemaugh Health System in Johnstown. “Our goal has really been education.”
Pneumonia, swelling of the brain and even death are among the complications of measles, Dr. Perry said.
Conemaugh Memorial Hospital recently treated two people with measles, including one who had to be admitted to the intensive care unit, he said.
Kindergarteners at Rockwood Area School District had a measles vaccination rate of 90.6%, unchanged from the 2024-2025 school year, but well short of the 95% public health officials say is necessary to achieve herd immunity. Of the unvaccinated, 9.4% cited a philosophic exemption, according to the health department.
Rockwood superintendent Mark R. Bower said many of the district’s unvaccinated students were being home schooled, which reduces the risk to the overall student body. About 60 students are schooled at home, he said.
“You’ve seen a drop across the state in vaccinations,” he said, which is concerning. “Part of that is political.”
The district’s goal is to educate parents about the benefits of vaccination and trust they will follow the recommendations of their family doctors, he said.
Measles has been called the most contagious disease, with 90% of those unvaccinated becoming infected after exposure. Low enrollment for local districts means that even one additional unvaccinated student can have a big impact on the school’s overall rate.
A total of 62 students are enrolled in kindergarten at Meyersdale, according to the health department; 32 students at Rockwood.
For high school seniors at Meyersdale, the measles vaccination rate was 95.2%, with 4.8% of the unvaccinated claiming a religious exemption. Seventh graders had a vaccination rate of 91.3%.
Religious exemptions were cited for 6.5% of students unvaccinated at Meyersdale kindergarten, according to the health department; 9.4% of Rockwood kindergarteners cited philosophical exemptions.
Because of its low enrollment – 253 students total – Turkeyfoot Valley School District is not required to submit vaccination rates to the state.
Pennsylvania is the epicenter of a measles outbreak in the U.S., with 1,222 cases in 42 counties reported year to date as of Oct. 14, an increase of 157 cases from the previous week. The outbreak has caused 225 hospitalizations and five measles-associated deaths.
Fewer than 1% of the infections were in people who were vaccinated.