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 reported more than 1,350 measles cases in 2026, with over a third in Lancaster County, according to state figures. Clinics serving Amish and Mennonite communities say the outbreak has prompted some people to get vaccinated, though views remain divided and the official count may miss infections.
Some Amish and Mennonite residents in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County are becoming more open to measles vaccination as an outbreak spreads through the region, according to health workers and community members interviewed by MedPage Today. State figures cited in the report show more than 1,350 measles cases in Pennsylvania this year, including more than a third in Lancaster County, while local providers say the official tally likely misses infections.
The outbreak has particularly affected Amish and conservative Mennonite communities, whose vaccination rates are generally lower than those of the wider population, though both rates and attitudes vary. Community leaders and researchers told MedPage Today that low vaccination has often reflected habit and limited prior engagement with vaccines rather than a religious prohibition. Some people are now seeking shots after measles reached their families or neighbors; others remain opposed.
Union Community Care, a nonprofit operating clinics and a mobile outreach program for Plain communities, has administered about 450 measles vaccinations through small-scale clinics, according to its chief medical officer, Anne-Marie Derrico. The clinics are also offering earlier-than-usual vaccination for some infants, following health experts’ advice for areas experiencing outbreaks. The report described one family bringing its 10-month-old son for his first measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) dose.
Pennsylvania’s reported case rate has fallen from a September peak, but doctors interviewed expect cases could rise as colder weather brings more indoor gatherings. State figures cited by MedPage Today also record five measles-associated deaths: three in Lancaster County and two elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Those are reported deaths; the article does not provide further details about the individuals or circumstances.
Outbreak Reaches Beyond Community Lines
The outbreak shows how measles can spread across social and community networks, rather than remaining within one group. Amish and Mennonite residents shop, attend programs and do business alongside people from the wider population. Health officials and local providers say that shared contact makes vaccination relevant to neighbors across Lancaster County, including people who may not consider themselves part of the affected communities.
Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, according to the report. While many infections are mild, the reported deaths underline the possible consequences. The 450 vaccinations delivered by Union Community Care indicate a local response, but do not establish how much the clinics have changed overall coverage or the course of the outbreak.
Products Worth Considering
Oura Ring 5 Smart Ring, Silver, Size 7
Oura Ring 4 Smart Ring – Silver – Size 8
Hyperice Normatec 3 Leg Compression Boots – Standard Size
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Why Vaccination Views Differ
The Amish are often described as separate from wider civic life, but Lancaster County’s communities are connected through commerce, schools, health care and other everyday activities. Union Community Care operates clinics in Lancaster and nearby towns, as well as a mobile program called Plain Healthy. Derrico said Plain patients travel into the city and that unvaccinated children from different communities may meet at schools and programs.
Vaccination views in Plain communities have shifted over time, according to community leaders and scholars cited by MedPage Today. Some reported that trust declined in response to strict COVID-19 public health measures. Allen Hoover, an Old Order Mennonite and former administrator of a local medical center, said many people who had not vaccinated were not acting from an explicit anti-vaccine position; some had simply never done so before and believed they had managed without it. He said building trust with outside health professionals takes time.
The report also described differing experiences within the communities. One Amish farmer opposed vaccination even after his family cared for young twins with measles. Another Plain farmer said he got vaccinated after adult siblings became ill, because he feared infection would prevent him from working. A Mennonite market vendor said his largely vaccinated community had no infections. These accounts are individual examples, not a measure of vaccination rates across all Amish or Mennonite residents.
“We are all interconnected.”
— Diego Hijano, a physician at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Case Totals and Local Coverage
The actual number of infections is unclear. Community leaders told MedPage Today that Pennsylvania’s official total is likely an undercount because some people with measles do not seek medical care. The report does not give an estimate of how many cases may be missing or a separate case total for Amish and Mennonite residents.
It is also not clear how much vaccination has increased across Lancaster County or whether the 450 shots administered by Union Community Care have measurably slowed transmission. Attitudes remain mixed, and the article does not provide a countywide vaccination rate or a breakdown by age and community. The report says cases fell from a September peak but gives no explanation for the decline or a forecast of how many cases winter gatherings could bring.
Winter Gatherings and Clinic Outreach
Health workers are continuing outreach as the outbreak develops, with Union Community Care offering vaccinations through clinics and its mobile program. Doctors interviewed by MedPage Today are watching for renewed spread during winter, when people spend more time indoors. The report does not identify a date for a new state update or a formal end point for the outbreak.
For now, the picture is one of both increased interest and continuing disagreement: some residents have sought vaccination after seeing illness among relatives or neighbors, while others remain unconvinced. Further case reporting, vaccination data and updates from local health providers will be needed to show whether the shift in openness is broad or limited to individuals and particular communities.
Key Questions
How many measles cases has Pennsylvania reported?
State figures cited by MedPage Today showed more than 1,350 cases in 2026, with more than a third in Lancaster County. Community leaders said the official total may be an undercount because some people do not seek medical care.
Are Amish and Mennonite residents now getting vaccinated?
Some are. Union Community Care said its outreach clinics had administered about 450 measles vaccinations. The report also describes residents who sought vaccination after illness affected their families, alongside others who remain opposed. It does not provide a countywide coverage figure.
Is vaccine refusal a religious rule in Amish communities?
The report says community leaders and researchers described low vaccination as often reflecting culture and habit rather than religious doctrine. Views vary among individuals and communities.
Could cases rise again in winter?
Doctors interviewed by MedPage Today expect cases could increase as winter brings more indoor gatherings. Pennsylvania’s reported cases had declined from a September peak, but the future trend was not yet known.
Source: medpagetoday.com
