TL;DR
Get health and wellness essentials delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Pennsylvania has recorded more than 1,350 measles cases in 2026, with over a third in Lancaster County, the state said. A MedPage Today report describes some Amish and Mennonite residents becoming more open to vaccination, while others remain skeptical; local clinics have administered about 450 measles shots to Plain-community residents.
Some Amish and Mennonite residents in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County are showing greater openness to measles vaccination as the state’s outbreak spreads, according to a MedPage Today report published October 31. Pennsylvania has recorded more than 1,350 cases this year, with more than a third in Lancaster County, state figures cited in the report show.
The outbreak has affected Amish and conservative Mennonite communities, often referred to collectively as Plain communities, where vaccination rates are generally lower than in the wider population, though attitudes vary. Community leaders and researchers quoted by MedPage Today said lower uptake has often reflected habit and limited prior vaccination rather than a religious prohibition.
Union Community Care, a nonprofit with clinics in Lancaster and nearby towns, has held small vaccination clinics and outreach sessions for Plain residents. Its chief medical officer, Dr. Anne-Marie Derrico, said the effort has resulted in about 450 measles vaccinations. The clinics are also offering some infants an earlier first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, following health experts’ advice for areas experiencing outbreaks.
Views remain mixed. One Amish farmer told the report he continued to oppose vaccination after he and his wife cared for their young twins while they had measles. Another Plain farmer said he chose to get vaccinated after adult siblings became ill, citing concerns that illness would keep him from farm work. A Mennonite market vendor said his largely vaccinated community had not had infections.
Outbreak Reaches Beyond Plain Communities
The report points to how measles can spread across community lines in Lancaster County. Amish and Mennonite residents interact with the wider public through markets, businesses, schools and other programs, while people from outside Plain communities also visit public places and may be unvaccinated. Dr. Derrico told MedPage Today that patients from different communities can encounter one another in those settings.
That overlap matters because measles is highly contagious and can cause severe complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, as well as death. Pennsylvania has recorded five measles-associated deaths this year: three in Lancaster County and two elsewhere in the state, according to figures cited in the report. The report also says community leaders believe official case totals undercount infections because some people do not seek medical care.
Some residents’ willingness to seek vaccination could help reduce the risk of further spread, but the reported clinic total does not establish how much the outbreak has changed overall vaccination coverage or transmission. Responses vary within Plain communities, and vaccination outreach depends in part on relationships built over time.
Products Worth Considering
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel (BES450BSS)
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Manual Milk Frother, Silver
Instant Pot Pro 8-Quart 10-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Black
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How Local Vaccine Trust Changed
Measles was considered eliminated from the United States in 2000, but imported infections can spread when they reach communities with low vaccination coverage. The MedPage Today report says falling vaccination rates among the general public, alongside historically lower rates among Amish residents, have contributed to conditions in which the virus can spread.
Community leaders and scholars told the outlet that vaccine attitudes in Plain communities have shifted over time. They described increased skepticism after strict COVID-19 public health measures, while the current measles outbreak has led some people to reconsider vaccination. Allen Hoover, an Old Order Mennonite and former administrator of a local medical center, said many who had not vaccinated were not acting out of firm opposition; they simply had no history of doing so.
Hoover said medical workers are more effective when they encourage vaccination without applying pressure. Building trust with Plain communities can take years, he said. Steve Nolt, director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College, told the outlet that Amish leadership has not framed vaccination as a religious issue.
““There’s no way to imagine that this is going to be an isolated community.””
— Dr. Anne-Marie Derrico, chief medical officer at Union Community Care
Case Counts and Uptake Remain Unclear
The state’s reported total of more than 1,350 cases may not capture all infections, according to community leaders quoted by MedPage Today, who said some people with measles do not see a doctor. The report does not provide a confirmed estimate of the actual number of cases or a measure of how many people in the affected communities remain susceptible.
It is also unclear how much the roughly 450 shots administered by Union Community Care have changed vaccination coverage or the outbreak’s trajectory. The report describes individual accounts and local outreach, but does not establish a countywide change in vaccine acceptance. Pennsylvania’s case numbers had fallen from a September peak, while doctors cited by the outlet expected cases could rise again as people gather indoors during winter.
Winter Gatherings Put Spread in Focus
Health officials and local clinics will continue monitoring case numbers and offering vaccination outreach, according to the report. Union Community Care is continuing its work with Plain communities, including early MMR doses for some infants in outbreak areas under health experts’ guidance.
The immediate indicators to watch are whether Pennsylvania’s case totals rise during winter and whether more residents seek vaccination. The report gives no specific forecast or schedule for future state updates, and it remains uncertain whether the recent increase in openness will persist beyond the current outbreak.
Key Questions
How many measles cases has Pennsylvania reported?
State figures cited by MedPage Today show more than 1,350 cases in 2026, with over a third in Lancaster County. Community leaders said the official total may miss cases among people who do not seek medical care.
Are Amish and Mennonite residents becoming more open to vaccination?
Some are, according to the report, but views differ. It describes residents who sought vaccination after family members became ill and others who remain opposed. The report does not quantify a countywide change in acceptance.
How many measles vaccinations has Union Community Care given?
The nonprofit said its clinics and outreach have resulted in about 450 measles shots for Plain-community residents, according to the report.
Why can measles spread between Amish and non-Amish residents?
Residents interact at markets, businesses, schools and other shared settings. Local health leaders told MedPage Today that Plain and wider communities are not isolated from one another.
Could cases rise again?
Pennsylvania’s reported cases had declined from a September peak, but doctors cited by MedPage Today said winter indoor gatherings could contribute to renewed spread. The future course of the outbreak is not yet known.
Source: medpagetoday.com
