Protecting a child from measles begins well before a school sends an exposure notice. It begins with a parent who understands the recommendations, a clinician who can answer questions and an appointment the family can attend. Those everyday connections deserve a central place in our public health response.
The need is immediate. As of Oct. 22, the Minnesota Department of Health had reported 43 measles cases in the state this year. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recorded 4,588 confirmed cases through the same date. Behind those figures are families navigating illness and communities working to prevent further spread.
As a physician and public health expert, I believe our response should bring two commitments together: a clear recommendation for vaccination and practical support that helps people act on it.
Measles spreads through the air and can be transmitted before its characteristic rash appears. It can cause serious complications, including pneumonia and brain inflammation. Fortunately, two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective.
That protection reaches beyond the person receiving the vaccine. High vaccination coverage helps protect infants too young for routine vaccination and people who cannot receive MMR for medical reasons. This is why I see measles prevention as both a family concern and a shared responsibility.
For Minnesota, a useful starting point is helping residents understand the protection they already have. The state’s immunization information system allows people to retrieve available records through Docket or seek help from a provider. Clinicians can review those records, address gaps and explain whether additional vaccination is recommended.
The next step is making the recommendation workable. Consider a parent who agrees to vaccination but needs an evening appointment, or a family seeking an interpreter and help understanding costs. A reminder alone does not resolve those needs. The recommendation should come with a way to follow it.
State and local health departments should work with clinics and schools to identify gaps and direct support where it will help most. Depending on local needs, that might mean extended clinic hours, transportation assistance or help locating affordable vaccination. Community organizations can connect families with those services, while employers can make preventive appointments easier to attend.
Questions deserve attention, too. A parent asking about side effects or the timing of a second dose should have an opportunity for an understandable conversation. Clinicians should explain vaccine benefits, risks and medical precautions clearly. I would treat time for those conversations as part of prevention, rather than an optional addition to it.
When an exposure occurs, public notices should answer practical questions: Who may have been exposed? What should they do today? Whom should they call? Information should be dated, available in relevant languages and accompanied by a way to reach someone for help.
Anyone who may have been exposed or suspects measles should promptly call a health care provider before arriving in person. This allows arrangements that protect other patients. After exposure, preventive treatment may be available, but timing matters. For emergency symptoms such as difficulty breathing, seek emergency care immediately and alert staff to possible measles.
Support also matters after an exposure. Schools should help affected students keep up with learning, and employers should help parents understand available leave. Planning for those disruptions allows families to follow public health advice while meeting responsibilities at home.
These efforts require staff, coordination and resources. State and local leaders should assess whether families can find their records, obtain recommended vaccination and receive timely guidance—not simply count how many messages were distributed.
For me, the goal is a Minnesota where families know what to do and can obtain help to do it. Measles prevention works best when sound medical advice is matched by practical community support.
Taiwo Aremu, MD, MPH, PhD, is a physician and public health expert, a graduate instructor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, a health economics and outcomes research fellow at Medtronic and an assistant professor at Touro University California. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of his affiliated institutions.
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