ACHD Recommends MMR Vaccine Ahead of This School Year

Published on August 11, 2026

Allegheny County Health Department Recommends MMR Vaccine Ahead of This School Year

PITTSBURGH – The following statement can be attributed to Dr. Jillian Irwin, Medical Director and Deputy Director for Clinical Services at the Allegheny County Health Department:

The Allegheny County Health Department understands that a recent executive order may have created confusion for families about routine childhood vaccinations. The most important message for parents and caregivers is simple: do not delay your child’s recommended vaccinations because of this announcement.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the recommended way to protect children against these three serious diseases. While the recent federal announcement calls for exploring separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, single-antigen measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are not available in the United States. Families should not wait for a hypothetical future vaccine option when the MMR vaccine is available and has a long history of protecting children.

This is particularly important now. Measles is highly contagious, and cases continue to occur in communities across the country and state. 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.

For families, the bottom line is unchanged: talk with your child’s health care provider and follow the recommended childhood immunization schedule. If your child is behind on vaccinations, it is not too late to catch up.

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The Allegheny County Health Department's mission is to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of the more than 1.2 million people who call Allegheny County home.

Media inquiries may be directed to Ronnie Das,
Public Information Officer for the Health Department,
at ronnie.das@alleghenycounty.us or by phone at 412-578-7991.