Measles Credit: CDC
August 26, 2026 - On Tuesday, the American Academy of Pediatrics released the following:
Today, Pennsylvania reported two measles-associated deaths. American Academy of Pediatrics President Andrew D. Racine, M.D., Ph.D., FAAP, issued the following statement:
“We were deeply saddened to receive the report of two measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania today, reminding all of us that measles remains a serious and potentially deadly disease. The families and communities suffering from this unimaginable loss deserve our love and support. This tragedy also reminds pediatricians across the country who are working every day to ensure children have access to the safe, effective and lifesaving vaccines of the importance of that work.
"Measles spreads through the air, making it highly contagious. Thankfully, the MMR vaccine is very effective at stopping transmission. When enough eligible individuals receive the vaccine, the entire community develops a level of immunity that protects our most vulnerable, including babies who are too young to be vaccinated. Today, I encourage all parents and caregivers to talk with your pediatrician and ask if your child is up-to-date on their MMR vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine immunization against measles starting at age 1, and early vaccination for children as young as 6 months old who are living in or traveling to a community where there is an active outbreak.
“In 2026, decades after measles was eliminated in the United States, it is heartbreaking to witness deaths from a disease that is preventable with a vaccine that has been widely used since the 1970s. Today, pediatricians call on our leaders to encourage MMR vaccination to stop the spread of measles in our communities. Let us return to a time when measles was a disease pediatricians only saw in their textbooks, not in their exam rooms.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics