As measles rages, one clinic leans on years of hard-won trust to keep vulnerable people safe

Key Points:

• A severe measles outbreak has struck Central Pennsylvania, particularly affecting Amish and Plain communities with lower vaccination rates, resulting in nearly 1,000 reported cases and five deaths since April 2025.
• The Central Pennsylvania Clinic, serving vulnerable patients with genetic disorders common in the Plain community, is overwhelmed by hospital admissions and is relying heavily on established trust and consistent communication to manage the crisis.
• The clinic faces logistical challenges in treating measles due to limited facilities and has adapted by creating outdoor triage areas and conducting home visits to reduce infection risk and increase vaccination access.
• Vaccination efforts have increased, including state-supported pop-up clinics hosted by the clinic, with community trust playing a crucial role in encouraging vaccine uptake despite historical caution toward government programs.
• The outbreak has disrupted routine care and fundraising events for the clinic, raising concerns about the financial and health impacts on the underserved Plain community, who often delay seeking medical care until conditions become severe.