Michigan health warning: Babies in these 7 counties need MMR vaccine
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April 6, 2026, 6:22 p.m. ET
A Michigan measles infection that isn’t linked to other cases or recent travel has state health leaders concerned about community spread of the virus. That prompted a new recommendation for babies.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services now urges infants in seven counties to get an early dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The vaccine should be given as soon as possible to babies between the ages of 6 months and 11 months in 7 counties, said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive.
The seven counties are: Washtenaw, Wayne, Monroe, Oakland, Jackson, Livingston and Lenawee. Babies who travel to Washtenaw or Monroe counties also should get an early dose of the MMR vaccine.
Babies in seven Michigan counties should get a dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine earlier than usually recommended to protect them from measles as the virus spreads through the southeastern portion of the state, according to a new recommendation from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
State health leaders issued the recommendation in early April, saying infants between the ages of 6 months and 11 months living in the following counties should get a dose of the MMR vaccine as soon as possible:
Washtenaw
Monroe
Wayne
Oakland
Jackson
Livingston
Lenawee County
The advisory also includes infants who live outside the seven counties but who visit Washtenaw or Monroe counties, where eight cases of the measles virus have been confirmed since March 11.
“Because people with measles can transmit the virus before they experience symptoms, we want to make sure we are protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities by recommending early vaccination for infants ages 6 through 11 months,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, in a statement. “The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine remains our best defense, and two doses offers 97% protection against measles.”
The recommendation to accelerate the vaccination of infants in those seven Michigan counties will remain in effect until May 16, the state health department said, which is two incubation periods after the infectious period of the last identified measles case.
Wayne, Oakland, Jackson, Livingston and Lenawee counties were included in the vaccine recommendation because they are adjacent to Washtenaw and Monroe counties, said Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the state health department.
“At this time, we are not aware of any additional cases of measles in Michigan to warrant a statewide accelerated MMR vaccination recommendation,” Sutfin said. “However, parents and caregivers across the state can always consult with their health care providers about if their infant should receive an accelerated MMR vaccine.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics ordinarily recommends a first dose of the MMR vaccine for children between the ages of 12 months and 15 months, with a second dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years old. However, the AAP recommends vaccination for younger babies during measles outbreaks and when families are planning international travel.
Babies ages 6 months to 11 months of old who get the accelerated first dose of the MMR vaccine still will require two additional doses of the vaccine after 12 months of age.
“The main consideration with vaccinating before 12 months is not safety, but long-term effectiveness,” Sutfin said. “Younger infants may not build as strong or long-lasting an immune response because maternal antibodies passed from mother to baby can partially interfere with the vaccine. This is why the early dose has always been considered an ‘extra’ dose rather than a replacement for the standard series — and why infants who receive it still need two more doses after 12 months of age to complete their protection.”
The MMR vaccine has a well-established safety profile supported by decades of U.S. and global data, she said. The most common side effects such as mild fever and rash are the same across age groups, and serious adverse events are rare.
“The best available evidence suggests that for infants in affected communities, the risks of measles far outweigh any risks associated with early vaccination,” Sutfin said.
“Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age, including pneumonia and encephalitis. The risk benefit of early first dose administration should be a discussion between the guardians and the child’s clinician when there is a risk of community transmission.”
Michigan measles cases climb in 2026
Seven of Michigan’s eight confirmed measles infections this year have been in people from Washtenaw County. There, “hundreds of people” remain under monitoring following known exposures to the virus, said Beth Ann Hamilton, a spokesperson for the county health department.
“We work to get names/contact info for all people the people we can with potential exposures, … and those are big lists of folks to follow up with and monitor for symptoms,” Hamilton told the Detroit Free Press on April 6.
“We are most concerned with people who have not had any doses of MMR vaccine (or a previous infection) — especially people who are most vulnerable to serious infections like children and pregnant or immunocompromised people.”
In Monroe County, health officials are monitoring 20 people who were exposed to the virus at an urgent care center in Milan and at a church in Ida after an unvaccinated child with measles visited those locations.
The child’s case was confirmed as measles on April 1, but could not be definitively linked to any of the Washtenaw County cases or to recent travel to other areas with active measles outbreaks, said Jamie Dean, health officer/director of the Monroe County Health Department.
That concerned Bagdasarian, who said it suggests there may be community spread of the virus.
“Measles is incredibly transmissible and we are now seeing possible spread outside the initial outbreak in Washtenaw County,” Bagdasarian said.
Anyone who was at the following locations at these date and times is urged to monitor for measles symptoms for 21 days and to call ahead to a medical provider before seeking treatment to avoid exposing others:
6-9:30 p.m. March 28 at St. Joseph Church of Ida, 8295 Van Aiken St., Ida.
11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. March 31 at Trinity Health IHA Urgent Care-Milan, 870 E. Arkona Road, Suite 105, Milan.
As of April 3, there have been 1,671 confirmed measles cases nationally in 33 states and jurisdictions in 2026, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Do I need another dose of the MMR vaccine?
With the number of cases rising in the state and nationally, Michiganders should ensure they are immune to measles, Bagdasarian said.
Anyone born before 1957 is considered immune to the virus, as is anyone who has had two documented, properly spaced doses of the MMR vaccine or a prior measles infection.
However, state health leaders say some people may be unaware they need another dose of the vaccine.
Those who were vaccinated before 1968 may have received a less-effective version of the vaccine, and people who were vaccinated before 1989 may have received only one dose of the MMR vaccine. If you fall into either of these categories, or if you are unsure whether you have ever received the MMR vaccine, state health leaders urge you to contact your health care provider or local pharmacy to find out whether you are eligible for a dose.
Immunization rates in the state have continued to drop in the last year, leaving more people vulnerable to this virus, which can cause severe illness, hearing loss, hospitalization, brain swelling, pneumonia and even death.
Statewide, only 66% of children ages 4 to 6 years old have had the recommended two doses of the MMR vaccine. That’s down from 89%, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“We encourage anyone who is eligible to get their vaccination, said Jamie Dean, director of the Monroe County Health Department. “That’s the best protection that we have.”
What are the symptoms of measles?
According to the CDC, measles symptoms typically start within seven to 14 days of exposure, but also have been known to appear as long as 21 days after initial exposure and can include:
Fever, which may rise above 104 degrees.
Respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, cough.
Red, watery eyes that can develop into pink eye or conjunctivitis.
Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots, known as Koplik spots, may develop on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth.
Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash that is red, raised and blotchy appears. It usually starts on the face and spreads to trunk, arms and legs.
Where can I get an MMR vaccine?
Vaccines are available from health care providers, pharmacies and health departments. Children eligible for the federal Vaccines for Children program may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program at no cost.
Washtenaw County: Call 734-544-6700 to schedule a vaccine ap
