|
View this as a webpage
October 30, 2025
In This Edition
Measles has continued to increase globally as well as nationally, with more than 1,600 cases reported in the United States in 2025. Minnesota has reported a total of 18 cases of measles in the past two months, bringing the state’s yearly total to 23. The most recent cases have occurred in unvaccinated people, and all have been connected to travel or to someone who had recently traveled:
- Ten cases, all unvaccinated, were part of a cluster of cases that started when someone with measles had visited from another state.
- Five cases occurred across three unrelated families who had unvaccinated family members exposed during the same international travel.
- Three cases occurred in one family after recent international travel.
Cases have ranged from 1 to 21 years of age, and are residents of Dakota, Hennepin, Olmsted, Ramsey, and Washington counties. Multiple settings have been impacted by potential exposures while cases were infectious including schools, child care, health care, and other public settings. To stay current on cases, visit Measles Disease Statistics and CDC: Measles Cases and Outbreaks.
MMR vaccine is the best tool for fighting measles
Measles, mumps, and rubella are serious diseases that can individually cause severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, hearing loss, and, in the case of rubella, birth defects during pregnancy. MMR vaccine continues to be the best tool for preventing measles. It has been in use for more than 50 years and has an excellent safety record. The standard two-dose series, the first at 12 to 15 months and second at 4 to 6 years, provides around 97% lifelong protection against measles and strong, durable protection against mumps and rubella.
For all ages, it is important to assess MMR vaccination status at every visit but especially for patients traveling internationally (including Canada and Mexico) or to an area of the U.S. experiencing an outbreak. Children 6 to 12 months old can get an early dose of MMR vaccine if their travels will put them at high risk for measles. This early dose does not count toward the two-dose series completion.
For information on measles disease, healthy travel, measles vaccine, and informational videos on the MMR vaccine, review the following resources:
Acting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Jim O’Neill officially adopted the COVID-19 and MMRV immunization recommendations from the September meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). These recommendations are now reflected in the updated immunization schedules CDC: Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (Addendum updated August 7, 2025) and CDC: Adult Immunization Schedule by Age (Addendum updated August 7, 2025).
COVID-19 vaccine
The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for people 6 months of age and older based on shared clinical decision making (SCDM) with emphasis on risks vs. benefits (CDC: ACIP Shared Clinical Decision-Making Recommendations and CDC: Underlying Conditions and the Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19). This recommendation ensures access to COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months of age and older through the Minnesota Vaccines for Children (MnVFC) program.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) endorses the more specific and evidence-based COVID-19 vaccine recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). For more information on MDH’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and protocols visit COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Minnesotans and Immunization Best Practices.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
Continue to use the COVID-19 VIS dated 1/31/2025 until a new one is published. Never withhold a vaccine because there is not a current VIS for it. Using the existing version and verbally relaying pertinent updates is acceptable. To find the most updated versions, visit Current VISs or sign up to receive notifications on What’s New with VISs.
Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine
The CDC now recommends that children under 4 years of age should receive the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines as separate doses rather than the combined MMRV product (Proquad). This change impacts the availability of MMRV for children under 4 years of age within the MnVFC program.
MMRV vaccine remains licensed for 12 months to 12 years of age. Both the AAP and AAFP state that MMRV vaccine may be used for children under 4 years of age. For more information refer to AAP-Immunization-Schedule (PDF) and AAFP: Birth Through Age 18 Immunization Schedule.
MnVFC COVID-19 vaccine for the 2025-26 season started shipping earlier this month, and we continue to ship orders as doses become available from the manufacturers. MnVFC enrolled providers can submit additional requests for doses at any time in MIIC. For information on recommendations, schedules, and other resources, visit COVID-19 Vaccine Providers.
|
