Measles Outbreaks Are Forcing Immunocompromised Kids to Make Impossible Choices

Measles cases have surged to a 35-year high in the United States, with nearly 3,000 confirmed infections in 2026 and deaths reported in Pennsylvania as schools reopen. Parents of immunocompromised children—who cannot be vaccinated or have weak immune responses—are restricting school attendance, social activities, and even opting for remote learning because local vaccination rates have fallen below the 95% herd-immunity threshold, exposing their kids to life-threatening complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, and immune amnesia.