Vaccinate against measles

Dear Parents and Guardians:

With the increasing risk of measles reaching Hawaiʻi, we strongly encourage you to consider getting your

child vaccinated against measles if your child is not fully vaccinated to help protect your child and the

community.

A high vaccination rate is the best way to prevent an outbreak. Accordingly, the Hawaiʻi State

Department of Health (DOH) is preparing emergency rules that, for the 120 days that emergency rules

can be in effect, a child with a religious exemption can receive the vaccine against measles, mumps, and

rubella (MMR) and retain their religious exemption.

Why are you doing this now?

Measles outbreaks and cases have been increasing. In 2023, there were four outbreaks and 59 cases. In

2024, there were 16 outbreaks and 285 cases. As of March 28, 2025, 483 measles cases have been

reported from 20 states (https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html).

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known, and a population vaccination rate of at least 95%

is needed to prevent an outbreak. The measles vaccination rate for Hawaiʻi is 90%, lower than the Texas

and national average of 93%. Based on the National Immunization Survey, the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) calculates state vaccination and exemption rates and trends, which are

available at: https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html. These are average rates, which can

differ by school.

How does this impact my child?

Certain schools in Hawaiʻi have low vaccination rates, making them at risk for measles and other disease

outbreaks. Should an outbreak occur in Hawaiʻi, students without evidence of an up-to-date measles

vaccination may be excluded from school based on DOH directives.

Families and staff can access vaccines by:

• Contacting their child’s preferred healthcare provider

• or local community clinic.

They can also use the CDC’s vaccine locator (https://www.vaccines.gov/en/) to identify a location to

access care. Schools and offices interested in hosting onsite vaccination clinics can call the DOH

Immunization Branch at (808) 586-8300.

Please help us keep your child safe, healthy, and in school by staying current with recommended

immunizations. Mahalo for doing your part to protect our keiki, families, and community from vaccine-preventable

diseases like measles.

Sincerely,

Sarah K. Kemble, MD

State Epidemiologist

Department of Health