The Illinois Department of Public Health recently introduced a new tool to track measles vaccination rates in schools. This dashboard allows parents and guardians to see how many students are vaccinated at both public and private institutions throughout the state. With recent measles cases popping up across more than 20 areas in the U.S., including alarming outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico that resulted in three deaths, two of whom were children, the need for such a tool is clear.
Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said, “The Department is using what we learned from our past responses to measles outbreaks to give residents easy access to important health information.” The dashboard not only shows vaccination rates but also estimates potential outbreak sizes and spreads based on current data from the 2023-24 school year.
Most Illinoisans received their measles vaccinations during childhood, which means that many are at low risk for contracting the disease. One dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 93% effective, while two doses raise that effectiveness to 97%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Measles is highly contagious, more so than many other illnesses. It spreads easily when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Those who are unvaccinated face significant risks, including severe complications like pneumonia and swelling of the brain.
While Illinois hasn’t seen a confirmed measles case since an outbreak in Chicago in early 2024, health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccines. By keeping vaccination rates high, communities can protect themselves from potential outbreaks.
For further details and resources about measles, you can visit the Illinois Department of Public Health.
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