Two unvaccinated individuals died of measles in Pennsylvania, health officials announced, as the state has already seen 393 confirmed cases this year, the highest in the United States in 35 years.
The deaths occurred in Lancaster County, where kindergarten children are only 85 % vaccinated against measles, well below the 95 % threshold needed for herd immunity.
Governor Josh Shapiro called the tragedy “completely preventable” and emphasized the MMR vaccine as “the best tool to protect against illness and death.”
The U.S. has registered 2,777 confirmed measles cases in 2026, up from 2,289 last year’s peak, and vaccine hesitancy has further eroded immunisation rates.
Adding complexity, President Donald Trump signed an executive order this month that would split the MMR vaccine into three separate shots and reduce mandatory childhood vaccinations. Public health experts warn that the order could increase confusion and undermine a safe, effective vaccine schedule.
The order follows a series of policy changes championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose stance on vaccination has prompted mixed messaging and legal challenges.
Smith affirmed at a press conference that the state would keep vaccines in the national schedule and that “there are real life consequences to spreading misinformation.”
The U.S. is on track to lose its declared measles‑elimination status, a milestone that Canada lost last year and will be re‑evaluated by a panel in November.
