Maryland identifies 248 schools with measles vaccination rates below herd-immunity threshold

Maryland’s health department reported that 248 schools enrolling kindergarten students have measles vaccination coverage below the 95% level considered necessary for herd immunity, according to data from November 2025. The shortfall affects both public and private institutions, with private schools more likely to fall under the threshold.

State officials have recorded 55 measles cases this year, a sharp increase from the typical five or fewer cases reported annually over the past decade. No school-based outbreaks have been confirmed, and the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains highly effective and safe.

"Maryland looks good compared to a lot of states, but there are some of these pockets and gaps that are more concerning," said Shaun Truelove, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

Nearly 80 schools reported coverage below 90%, a level at which the risk of an outbreak rises substantially, according to federal data cited by experts. Maryland law requires vaccination before kindergarten, with exemptions allowed for medical reasons and for parents citing religious objections. Critics note that the religious exemption process in Maryland is less stringent than in some neighboring states.

School officials in Baltimore County disputed the state-reported rates for several schools but did not provide specific figures. In the city, health services staff monitor unvaccinated children daily and work to connect families with vaccination clinics, asking parents whether exemptions stem from access issues or vaccine refusal.

"I think all of us in public health are very concerned that diseases that were eradicated are going to return," said Courtney Pate, director of health services for Baltimore City Public Schools.

Pediatricians attribute rising vaccine hesitancy to misinformation on social media and past unfounded claims linking vaccines to autism. The state has taken steps to improve access, including the Vax Act that aligns guidance with major medical associations, mandates insurance coverage for the two MMR doses, and allows pharmacists to administer vaccines without a prescription.

Public schools receive funding based on the count of vaccinated or exempted students, creating a financial incentive to ensure compliance. Recent reports indicate that about 52 kindergarteners in the state lack vaccination and do not have an exemption, while 118 have religious exemptions.

"Enough people in this state have confidence in vaccines. The deaths in Pennsylvania may scare some people," said Dr. William Moss, a Johns Hopkins pediatrician and infectious-disease expert.