Declining vaccination rates put Oregonians ‘at risk' of measles outbreak
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As cases of measles rise nationwide and Oregon vaccination rates drop; local and state health officials warn the highly infectious disease could make a comeback.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1,000 cases of measles have been reported across 31 jurisdictions this year. Several outbreaks have claimed the lives of at least three people, two of them children and all of them unvaccinated.
So far, Oregon has not reported any known cases of the airborne disease. However, the state is lagging behind on vaccination rates, especially among school-aged kids.
According to OHA data, the percentage of Oregon kindergartners fully vaccinated against measles sank from more than 94% in 2015, to just 90% in 2025.
'We had eradicated measles in the United States in the early 1990s,' said Clackamas County Health Officer Dr. Sarah Present. 'We're at the point that is at risk.'
She added, 'Because we've not had measles spread in the United States for so many years, people don't know necessarily how serious the disease could be. It really can be deadly, but some of the other effects of the measles virus on the body, on the neurologic system, on the lungs and the heart, are really severe and can have long, lasting effects on people.'
Last year, Oregon saw the largest measles outbreak since 1991. The Oregon Health Authority recorded 31 cases in 2024, all of which were concentrated in Marion and Clackamas Counties.
Dr. Present said the current Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage for school-aged children is about 90% -that's below the 95% needed for herd immunity.
'We've had a steady decline since 2020,' Present said. 'There are some schools themselves or some communities that have very low vaccination rates, and so there could be very rapid spread of the disease if it were to be introduced into those areas.'
Experts aren't sure what is driving the drop in vaccination rates, but Dr. Present told KOIN 6 News a lack of vaccine access, and the spread of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic hasn't helped.
'[The pandemic] changed people's access to care, especially in our rural communities,' Present explained. 'So, many people, just out of convenience, choose not to vaccinate because they don't have good access to it. There is absolutely a lot of disinformation and misinformation about vaccines. Particularly the MMR vaccine, there are a lot of things spread on social media that are not true about the risk-benefit ratio.'
To help reverse the trend, Dr. Present says the county is conducting targeted educational outreach and working to increase access to vaccines in underserved areas.
She says Clackamas County is also poised to have stand-up emergency vaccine clinics should another outbreak occur. Still, Present maintains the best way to prevent a potential outbreak is for the community to do their part.
'It's not just a rash, it's not a mild disease, it's a severe disease, and the vaccine is incredibly, incredibly safe,' Present said. 'If you have your two doses of MMR vaccine, you have immunity for life.'
In a statement, Tim Heider OHA Public Health Communications Officer wrote:
'Measles is a contagious virus that can be serious and potentially life-threatening. Unfortunately, it has re-emerged in our communities, primarily due to a declining percentage of people who are getting vaccinated.
'The good news is that we have a highly safe and effective vaccine – it is our strongest line of defense and the best way to keep yourself, your children and your community safe. If you have questions about the vaccine, we encourage people to talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns.
'To learn more about measles and to receive daily status updates of measles outbreak data, visit OHA's Measles and Rubeola web page.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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