Midwife Seeks Authority to Administer MMR Amid Pennsylvania Measles Surge
On September 18, a traditional midwife who serves Amish families in Lancaster County urged state officials to grant her authority to administer the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, as Pennsylvania grappled with its worst measles outbreak in decades. The outbreak, first reported on September 11, had climbed to 731 confirmed cases and four deaths among unvaccinated people, with 141 hospitalizations, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Health officials warned of heightened transmission risk during the school year and called for a public-education campaign, while the CDC urged expanded outreach.
Earlier, four breakthrough infections were identified in individuals who had received two doses of MMR, and the total state count reached 676 cases across 37 counties. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health also warned of possible exposure at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on September 11. In response, pharmacies in Lancaster began offering walk-in vaccinations and hospitals ramped up screening and vaccination efforts.
