Latest news with #OklahomaStateDepartmentofHealth
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oklahoma health officials ask schools to warn vax-exempted families about measles outbreak
As the U.S. closes in on 1,000 confirmed measles cases in the past four months, Oklahoma health officials are asking schools to be more proactive about warning parents about the spread of the disease — especially those who have chosen not vaccinate their children. The Oklahoma State Department of Health issued a May 1 memo that advises school districts to contact parents of children with a vaccine exemption on file to inform them about the current outbreak and emphasize the importance of the measles vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 935 confirmed cases of measles have been recorded across the United States in 2025 through May 1. While most have been in Texas and New Mexico, Oklahoma has 14 confirmed and another three probable cases. All but two of those Oklahoma cases involved unvaccinated people. In its unsigned memo written for school administrators, the state Health Department advises schools to communicate with families and staff, promote vaccination, strengthen their health messaging and monitor for symptoms among students. Although children are technically required to have up-to-date vaccinations by the time they enter public schools in Oklahoma, the state allows parents to submit exemptions for medical or non-medical reasons. According to the latest data collected by the CDC, 5.5% of Oklahoma kindergarteners showed up school last year with a non-medical exemption for at least one vaccine. The rate of non-medical exemptions skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as vaccinations became more politicized. A decade ago, the exemption rate was 1.5%. The state Health Department memo calls on schools to ensure their students are either up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations or have an exemption on file. Next, the letter asks schools to inform parents that measles has been identified in Oklahoma, "emphasizing the importance of vaccination and exclusion should measles be identified within the school community." "As long as uncontrolled spread from the Texas and New Mexico outbreak continues, there will be a risk for increased measles cases in Oklahoma," the Health Department memo said. "Due to the complexity and scale of the outbreak, it is anticipated to take time for it to be under control." Despite years of vaccine skepticism in Oklahoma, data from the state Health Department suggests that the current outbreak has spurred more parents than usual to get their children vaccinated. The number of new MMR vaccine records on file at the state Health Department has grown considerably in 2025. Doses recorded for children under 1 year old went from about one per week in January to 69 during the last week of April. The number of all other children getting the MMR vaccine each week has nearly doubled. Adult vaccinations have tripled. "We have observed (or noted) a concurrent growing rise in interest regarding MMR vaccine information, administration of MMR, and immunization records at our local county health departments," said Erica Rankin-Riley, a spokesperson for the state Health Department. "We have also been actively sharing educational materials about the MMR vaccination through our social media channels and our measles webpage." Doctors recommend at least two doses of the MMR vaccine to ensure lifelong resistance to infection. If you're not sure about you or your child's vaccine status, the Oklahoma State Immunization Information System (OSIIS) portal will probably have the records on file. Medical providers aren't required to submit vaccination records to health officials, but many do. The portal has records going back decades. Each state maintains its own vaccination records database, but not all are as easy to check as Oklahoma's. To check a vaccination record, go to the portal site at and follow the instructions to verify your identity. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Measles outbreak: Oklahoma issues school guidance on vaccines
Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Trump restores Title X funding for two anti-abortion states - while wiping it out elsewhere
The Trump administration quietly restored federal family planning money to Tennessee and Oklahoma, despite court rulings that the states weren't entitled to funds because they refused to provide women information about terminating pregnancies or abortion referrals on request. The decision by the Department of Health and Human Services to restore millions of dollars for the two states came as it simultaneously withheld nearly $66 million from clinics in the Title X program elsewhere. Title X for more than 50 years has provided sexual and reproductive health services especially to low-income, hard-to-reach people, including minors. The Biden administration in 2023 cut off funding to Tennessee and Oklahoma, saying they violated federal rules by not offering counseling to patients about abortion. The states sued federal health officials. And courts ruled against the states. On March 31, HHS restored $3.1 million in family planning funds for the Tennessee Department of Health and nearly $2 million for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, according to court filings. In the notices, HHS said family planning funds were sent to the two states "pursuant to a settlement agreement with the recipient." Yet "there has been no agreement with Tennessee to settle this litigation," Department of Justice lawyers wrote in an April 23 court filing. Zach West, an official with the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General, separately wrote on April 17 that the state's grant notice "wrongly indicated that a settlement agreement had been reached. No agreement has yet been entertained or discussed in any substantial manner in this case." "To our knowledge no settlement has been reached between the State of Oklahoma and HHS in the pending litigation," Erica Rankin-Riley, public information officer for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, said in an email in response to questions. She said the state's Title X clinics are not providing referrals for abortion or counseling pregnant women about terminating pregnancies. "We are appreciative of all that has been involved in restoring Oklahoma's long-standing and successful Title X grant," Rankin-Riley said, "and look forward to continuing these important services throughout the state as we have done for over 50 years." Spokespeople for HHS and the Tennessee Department of Health did not respond to requests for comment. Title X was established to reduce unintended pregnancies and provide related preventive health care. As of 2023, more than 3,800 clinics across the country used federal grants to supply free or low-cost contraception, testing for sexually transmitted infections, screening for breast and cervical cancer, and pregnancy-related counseling. Nationwide, more than 4 in 5 people who use Title X's services are women, according to HHS. Federal law prohibits clinics from using Title X money to pay for abortions. However, HHS regulations issued in 2021 say participating clinics must offer pregnant women information about prenatal care and delivery, infant care, foster care, adoption, and pregnancy termination. That includes counseling patients about abortion and providing abortion referrals on request. HHS under President Donald Trump has not yet revised the Biden-era regulations, which means participating clinics are still required to provide abortion counseling and abortion referrals for pregnant women who request them. After the Supreme Court's June 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which ended the constitutional right to an abortion, Tennessee and Oklahoma enacted strict abortion bans with few exceptions. The states told their Title X clinics they could discuss or make referrals only for services that were legal in their states, effectively cutting off any talk about abortion. "Continued funding is not in the best interest of the government," two HHS officials wrote to Tennessee officials on March 20, 2023. Tennessee and Oklahoma subsequently sued in federal court. A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled against Tennessee, while Oklahoma asked the Supreme Court to review the case after that state lost in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. State officials suggested even they weren't sure why they got some of their funding back before the lawsuits were resolved. "If Oklahoma's award is not being restored pursuant to a settlement agreement, then what is the reason for the partial restoration, and is it permanent?" West wrote. "Tennessee has not yet ascertained the formal position of HHS with respect to whether HHS intends to fully restore Tennessee's Title X funding," Whitney Hermandorfer of the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General wrote in an April 7 letter. A report from HHS' Office of Population Affairs said 60% of roughly 2.8 million patients who received Title X services in 2023 had family incomes at or below the poverty line. Twenty-seven percent were uninsured, more than three times the national uninsured rate. In fiscal 2024, the federal government awarded Title X grants to nearly 90 entities, a mix of state and local governments and private organizations. Those grantees distribute funds to public or private clinics. The decision to restore some of Tennessee and Oklahoma's funding diverges sharply from the approach HHS under Trump has taken with other Title X participants. On March 31, HHS withheld family planning funds from 16 entities, including nine Planned Parenthood affiliates. At least seven states - California, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, and Utah - now do not have any Title X-funded family planning services, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court by the ACLU and the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, which lobbies for Title X clinics. Overall, 865 family planning clinics are unable to provide services to roughly 842,000 people, the lawsuit states. "We know what happens when health care providers cannot use Title X funding: People across the country suffer, cancers go undetected, access to birth control is severely reduced, and the nation's STI crisis worsens," Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles exposure site identified in Sallisaw, case count reaches 15
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Oklahoma State Department of Health has identified a new measles exposure site in Sallisaw as well as two new confirmed cases on Friday. OSDH says shoppers at the Walmart Supercenter in W Ruth Avenue in Sallisaw may have been exposed to measles on April 18 between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Oklahoma measles case count now at 13 after new confirmed case reported The health department is encouraging anyone who is unvaccinated or unsure about their vaccine or immune status to provide their name and contact information using this form. A department staff member will reach out between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week, with further details. Two new confirmed measles cases have also been identified by OSDH, bringing the total case count up to 15 as of Friday, April 25 — 12 confirmed and three probable. The US has nearly 900 measles cases, and 10 states have active outbreaks. Here's what to know For the first time since the outbreak in early March, a vaccinated person in Oklahoma has contracted the measles, according to the latest data from OSDH. One of the measles patients has reportedly received two or more doses of the MMR vaccine, while the other 14 are listed as unvaccinated. OSDH is expected to provide their next round of updated case numbers this upcoming Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles in Oklahoma: OSDH identifies two new measles exposure sites in the state
Several locations have become potential measles exposure sites in and around central Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Department of Health releases information regarding exposure locations as they become aware of the exposures, which may date back to days or even weeks ago. New to the list, the OSDH states that individuals may be at risk of exposure if they visited: Sooner Mall, located at 3301 W Main Street, Norman, between 2 and 6 p.m. on April 14. Specifically, they cite Dillard's and American Eagle as potential exposure sites. Slaughterville Town Hall, located at 10701 US Hwy 77, Slaughterville, from 7 - 11 p.m. on April 15. The Health Department reports that anyone who visited either location within the stated dates and timeframes and is either unsure of their vaccination status or is not vaccinated against measles should contact the health department by calling 405-426-8000 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Individuals possibly exposed and not immune through vaccination or prior infections should exclude themselves from public settings for 21 days after their potential exposure. If you do not know your vaccination status, you can look for your MMR vaccine record by checking your shot records with the state Health Department at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSDH identifies two new measles exposure sites in Oklahoma
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
US exceeds 700 measles cases amid national outbreaks How many cases are in Oklahoma?
The U.S. reached a grim milestone Friday, surpassing 700 confirmed measles cases in 2025, according to figures posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The year before, only 285 cases were reported nationwide. So far, the agency has reported cases in two dozen states, with Texas reporting more than 540 measles cases. Oklahoma, however, only accounts for about 2% of the total cases in the nation. There have been two deaths in the U.S. linked to measles, while one more is currently under investigation. The rapidly spreading disease is making its way through the nation and has already entered Oklahoma's borders. Here's what to know about measles nationwide and in the Sooner State. Though the CDC has reported more cases this year, it also states that cases are found in fewer states. This year, only 24 states have reported measles cases, compared to 33 in 2024. There have also been fewer outbreaks that have occurred throughout the nation this year. Only seven outbreaks have been reported in 2025, and 93% of the cases that have been reported are related to one of the outbreaks. In 2024, the CDC reported 16 outbreaks throughout the year, with 69% of cases related to an outbreak. The CDC defines outbreaks as three or more related cases. Of those confirmed with the measles virus, the majority of the age range is those aged 5-19. This population makes up 38% of cases, with 274 unique confirmations. The overwhelming majority of cases have been found in unvaccinated individuals. Only 3% of cases have been found in individuals with one (1%) or both (2%) MMR doses. The Oklahoma State Department of Health has continued to report measles cases as they are recorded and issues exposure notices as necessary. The most recent report, from April 15, states there have been 12 measles cases reported in Oklahoma. Nine cases are confirmed cases, meaning the lab has a confirmatory test result from the individual, and three are probable cases, when the lab does not yet have the confirmatory test. All 12 cases are among unvaccinated individuals. This month, the OSDH shared two exposure notices. Northwest Pediatrics of Oklahoma City's Mercy Plaza Building, 4140 W. Memorial Rd., for anyone visiting between 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 4. Aldi Grocery Store, 6965 Northwest Expressway, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 6. The health department reports that anyone who visited either location within the stated dates and timeframes, unsure of their vaccination status or not vaccinated against measles should contact the health department by calling 405-426-8000 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Individuals possibly exposed and not immune through vaccination or prior infections should exclude themselves from public settings for 21 days after their potential exposure. Notices are updated online at If you do not know your vaccination status, you can look for your MMR vaccine record by checking your shot records with the state Health Department at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Measles outbreak: US exceeds 700 cases in 2025, Oklahoma cases rising
