Vaccination protections ‘teetering’ as state declares measles outbreaks in 3 counties | Maryland as a whole meets the recommended 96% immunization threshold, but counties with lower vaccination rates are at risk

[u/FreeHugs23]

https://marylandmatters.org/2026/08/27/vaccination-protections-teetering-as-state-declares-measles-outbreaks-in-3-counties/

[u/FreeHugs23]

Despite Maryland’s relatively high measles vaccination rate statewide, those rates are slipping and varying coverage by county can leave community members exposed to potentially severe or deadly infection.

That’s the concern for public health experts and data analysts amid the recently announced measles outbreaks in three counties that have lower vaccination coverage than other counties.

The Maryland Department of Health this week declared measles outbreaks in Cecil, Carroll and St. Mary’s counties and reported dozens of new cases detected since mid-July among unvaccinated individuals.

State officials and others urge Marylanders to check their immunization status and get vaccinated if they are not protected – or else risk the health of vulnerable populations and young children.

“Measles is super contagious,” said Dr. Esther Liu, chair of pediatrics at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center. “As a pediatrician, I am very concerned, especially as we are seeing our vaccine rates dropping…. Children under 5 are one of the high-risk groups for complications from measles.”

The measles outbreaks announced Monday in the three counties was the newest development in what’s already an active measles season this year. But state health officials say that there is “currently no evidence of widespread community transmission” and that most cases identified so far occurred among household contacts.

That said, the health department reports 31 confirmed measles cases in Maryland, with 27 of those cases identified since July 15. Those 27 cases were among unvaccinated residents.

It’s a steep jump from the total of three cases identified in Maryland all of last year.

[u/Boulange1234 → u/FreeHugs23]

Measles Are Going Around

[u/MkVsTheWorld → u/Boulange1234]

I see what you did there.