As a measles outbreak hits Pennsylvania Amish country, more show openness to vaccines

Key Points:

• Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, home to the largest Amish population in the U.S., is the epicenter of the nation's worst measles outbreak in 35 years, with over 1,350 cases statewide and more than a third in Lancaster County alone.
• The outbreak primarily affects Amish and conservative Mennonite "Plain communities," where vaccination rates are lower due to cultural habits rather than religious doctrine, though many are now showing increased openness to vaccines.
• Declining vaccination rates in the general population, along with low rates in Plain communities, have created conditions for measles to spread despite it being declared eliminated in the U.S. since 2000; Pennsylvania's kindergarten MMR vaccination rate has fallen to 93.2%, with Lancaster County at 88%.
• Health officials and community leaders emphasize the interconnectedness of Plain and wider populations, noting that vaccine outreach and trust-building efforts are crucial, with some success seen through targeted vaccine clinics and earlier infant vaccinations.
• Public health experts urge unity in promoting vaccine safety and effectiveness, highlighting that vaccination protects individuals and their communities, while cautioning against blaming specific groups for the outbreak amid widespread vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.