‘Babies are dying’: How Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak changed the vaccine mindset of this Amish country midwife

Key Points:

• Pennsylvania is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in over 30 years, centered in Lancaster County, with 731 cases reported across 38 counties and four recent measles-related deaths, including two Amish infants.
• Roberta Devers, a traditional midwife serving Amish communities, advocates for vaccination and wants to be authorized to administer the MMR vaccine, but current state law prohibits unlicensed midwives from providing medical treatments like vaccinations.
• Amish vaccination rates are low due to partial abstention from modern medicine and rural access challenges, though Amish communities do not have religious objections to vaccines and have historically accepted immunizations during outbreaks.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Health has conducted over 120 pop-up vaccination clinics to combat the outbreak but maintains that expanding vaccine administration rights to traditional midwives would require legislative changes.
• The outbreak has sparked political debate, with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro urging vaccination efforts, while anti-vaccine rhetoric from figures like former HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has complicated public health messaging in affected communities.