Montgomery County has recorded three confirmed measles cases in 2026, and families in the Colonial School District face a confusing pair of deadlines before the first day of school on August 31.
Colonial Middle School's website lists October 1, as the deadline for immunization and dental records. But Pennsylvania law is stricter: under 28 Pa. Code §§ 23.81-87, a child missing a required single-dose vaccine on the first day of attendance may not be admitted to school. For multi-dose vaccines, students have five school days to receive the next dose or face exclusion.
Families preparing rising seventh graders should not wait until October. State law governs admission.
Three cases in Montgomery County
The Pennsylvania Department of Health launched a statewide measles dashboard on July 20 at pa.gov/measles. It tracks cases by county, age, hospitalization status, and vaccination history, with updates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
As of July 20, Pennsylvania had recorded 111 measles cases in 2026. Lancaster County leads with 68, followed by Lebanon County with 20, Chester County with seven, and Berks and Montgomery counties each with three.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen said the department has administered more than 1,500 MMR vaccine doses through state health centers in 2026 and more than 600 doses to Lancaster County residents since cases emerged there in late April.
What students need
All K-12 students in Pennsylvania must have immunizations for DTaP, polio, MMR, hepatitis B, and varicella on file, or hold a medical, religious, or strong moral/ethical exemption.
Seventh graders face additional requirements: one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) and one dose of MCV4 (meningococcal conjugate vaccine). Twelfth graders need a second MCV4 dose.
The Wissahickon School District also opens on August 31, per its approved 2026-2027 calendar. The district's website does not list a specific immunization deadline; the same state law requiring vaccines by the first day of attendance applies.
School-level data coming in August
The PA Department of Health said school-level vaccination rates will be posted online in August, giving parents building-by-building data for the first time. The department has previously published only county- and state-level figures.
What to do if exposed
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, according to the department. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room, and symptoms may not appear for seven to 21 days after exposure.
Residents who believe they have been exposed can call the PA Department of Health hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258) or visit pa.gov/measles.
