Caregivers Should Proceed with MMR Vaccination for Children, Allegheny County Health Dept. Says

The Allegheny County Health Department recommends that caregivers do not delay their child’s vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

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The health department made the announcement in the wake of a recent federal announcement that the department notes may have created confusion about routine childhood vaccinations.

The federal government recently called for exploring separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines - however, single-antigen measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines are not available in the United States, the health department said.

The department notes that the MMR vaccine remains the recommended method to protect children against the three serious diseases. Therefore, families should not wait for a hypothetical future vaccine option when the MMR vaccine is available and has a long history of protecting children, the department said.

Measles is highly contagious, and cases continue to occur in communities across the country and Pennsylvania. 

“Measles is not an abstract or distant threat - it is at our doorstep and vaccination is the best way to protect children and prevent outbreaks in our community,” said Dr. Jillian Irwin, medical director and deputy director for clinical services at the Allegheny County Health Department.