Maryland Measles Outbreak and Changes to Vaccine Recommendations

Measles Outbreak Declared in Maryland Counties

Maryland health officials have declared a measles outbreak in three counties after confirming 14 new cases among unvaccinated residents. The Maryland Department of Health announced that outbreaks have been declared in St. Mary’s, Carroll, and Cecil Counties, bringing the state’s total confirmed measles cases to 31 this year.

All 27 cases identified since July 15 have involved unvaccinated residents. Officials have not identified any public exposure sites and say there is no evidence of widespread community transmission as most infections occurred among household contacts.

Among the state’s 27 confirmed cases since July 15, 13 were reported in St. Mary’s County, eight in Carroll County, five in Cecil County, and one in Charles County. Earlier this year, four additional cases involved residents of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Prince George’s Counties.

The department is working with local health departments to boost vaccination rates and expand access to immunizations in affected communities. Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani emphasized the contagious nature of measles and the importance of vaccination, stating, “The overall risk remains low if you are fully vaccinated.”

President Trump Defends Changes to MMR Vaccine Recommendations

The measles outbreak in Maryland coincides with President Donald Trump’s defense of a proposal to restructure childhood vaccine recommendations. The plan includes separating the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into individual shots.

“We’re telling people when you get your shots for your young child, and this has to do we think with preventing autism, that you go to the doctor for five small shots instead of one big mass,” Trump said.

President Trump’s comments suggest that altering vaccine schedules could lower autism risk. This claim contradicts decades of scientific research, which has found no evidence linking the MMR vaccine with autism.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, countered the administration’s messaging, stating on CBS News’ Face the Nation that the combined MMR vaccine is “not a lethal vaccine.” He responded to earlier comments by President Trump suggesting that the combined MMR vaccine “could be quite lethal” without supporting evidence.

Experts warned that delaying vaccination might leave children vulnerable during a period of rising measles transmission. Maryland officials continue to recommend the standard MMR vaccine schedule, which includes the first dose given at ages 12 to 15 months and the second dose at ages 4 to 6.