New Minnesota dashboard reveals sharp measles vaccination gaps across schools

Minnesota health officials are urging families to check their children’s immunization status as a new statewide dashboard reveals declining measles protection across schools and childcare centers. 

The dashboard, launched in the spring through a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the University of Minnesota, allows families to view measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates for every school and child care facility in the state. It includes data across all grade levels, expanding on previous reporting that focused only on kindergarten and seventh grade.

Ben Christianson, an epidemiologist in the immunization program at MDH, said Minnesota’s MMR coverage has dropped over the past few years...