The Real Cost of a Measles Outbreak
The Real Truth About Vaccines
As we continue to hit break records with measles outbreaks getting larger and lasting longer than they have in 35 years, we are also seeing measles outbreaks that are getting more expensive to stop.
“Public health is decentralized in Texas, so we don’t have information on the cost to local health departments. The estimated cost for the Texas Department of State Health Services was $11,467,904.73.”
Texas Department of State Health Services
Outbreaks that are setting records for how much it is costing to get them under control.
The Real Cost of a Measles Outbreak
Now, to add to the recent big outbreaks in Texas, we have a report about how much it cost to stop the outbreak in New Mexico.
It cost $5.4 million to stop that outbreak.
An outbreak that “resulted in 100 confirmed cases of measles, including seven hospitalizations.”
But that’s not the whole picture, is it?
What else have these large outbreaks been costing us?
In addition to all of these cases and all of the money spent controlling these cases, we have seen:
two deaths in unvaccinated children in Texas (2025)
one death in an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico (2025)
one SSPE death (2025)
at least one infant with meningoencephalitis who was born to an unvaccinated mother with measles in Texas (2025)
at least two unvaccinated child with measles encephalitis in South Carolina (2026)
at least 404 hospitalizations, the majority of which have been children, with very few of them known to be completely vaccinated with two doses of the MMR vaccine
a lot of missed school days because kids are sick or in quarantine
What else?
There is no sign that these outbreaks are slowing down.
Instead, we are actually seeing new outbreaks popping up!
Is your city next?
“This modeling analysis, conducted by the Yale School of Public Health, finds that a sustained 1% annual decline in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage could lead to more than 17,000 measles cases, 4,000 hospitalizations, and 36 preventable deaths each year, while adding billions in avoidable costs across the United States health system and economy by 2030. Over the next five years, declining measles vaccination rates could cost $1.5 billion annually and add approximately $7.8 billion in cumulative costs (a range of $5.6 billion to $11.6 billion).”
More Illness, Greater Cost Spotlight Brief: Childhood Immunizations
Don’t take that chance.
Get vaccinated and protected with two doses of the MMR vaccine.