More than a third of Oregon schools are at risk of a measles outbreak, according to a May 26 alert from health officials. That’s because — continuing a downward trend that began a decade ago — increasing numbers of parents are declining to get their kids vaccinated. In the 2025-2026 school year, only 85.6% of kindergarteners were up to date on required vaccines, and Oregon’s rate of nonmedical exemptions for vaccines climbed to a record high of 10.9% —up from 6.9% four years ago.
That creates the conditions for an outbreak of measles, one of the most contagious diseases in the world. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 92% to 94% of the population needs to be immune to measles, through vaccination or previous infection, to prevent or limit the spread of infections in a community.
“We urge the public to talk with your healthcare provider today and make the decision to get vaccinated to protect yourself, your loved ones and our communities,” said Christy Simila, Director of Professional Practice for the Oregon Nurses Association in a special statement to the Labor Press.
“Vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest achievements. They save millions of lives every year, prevent debilitating diseases, and allow children to grow up healthier and safer. Thanks to the combined work of scientists, frontline healthcare workers and timely immunizations, we have nearly eliminated diseases like measles, polio and whooping cough across the county. However, as childhood immunization rates slip, we risk losing our progress and reopening the door to a host of dangerous, preventable diseases.”
