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HealthFading · day 7

Pennsylvania measles outbreak kills infants; Amish midwife seeks vaccine authority

A traditional midwife in Lancaster County wants to administer MMR vaccines herself as Pennsylvania's largest measles outbreak in 30+ years claims four lives.

newest coverage 1d agosummary written 5d ago16 pieces51 likes & upvotes2 comments MastodonBlueskyNewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Pennsylvania's measles outbreak—the nation's largest in 2026—has killed four people including two Amish infants, with 731 cases across 38 counties as of mid-September.
  • Roberta Devers, a traditional midwife previously skeptical of vaccines, now wants state permission to carry and administer MMR vaccines to her Amish patients, arguing speed matters more than formal credentials.
  • Governor Shapiro and HHS Secretary RFK Jr. are publicly feuding over how to report the outbreak's death toll, complicating the public health response.

“Do you have some measles in your car?”

Amish families, Patients asking Devers · Inquirer.com ↗

Roberta Devers Traditional midwifeJosh ShapiroJosh Shapiro Pennsylvania GovernorRobert F. Kennedy Jr.Robert F. Kennedy Jr. HHS SecretaryPennsylvania State Health Officials Public health agency

Pennsylvania measles outbreak kills infants; Amish midwife seeks vaccine authority
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How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

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Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22Sep 23yesterdaynow · 5:29 AM ET
  1. background

    Shapiro and RFK Jr. clash over measles death reporting — The outbreak has sparked conflict between Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and President Trump's Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over how to report the outbreak's death toll.

  2. background

    Traditional midwife Devers reverses vaccine stance, seeks authority to administer MMR — Roberta Devers, a 63-year-old traditional midwife who previously refused to vaccinate her own son, now believes the outbreak is severe enough that she should be able to carry and administer the MMR vaccine to her patients in Amish communities. She argues that as a trusted caregiver, she can reach families more effectively than formal health systems.

  3. 1

    Pennsylvania reports 731 measles cases and four deaths in largest outbreak in 30+ years

    As of Wednesday, Pennsylvania had recorded 731 measles cases across 38 counties, with Lancaster County recording the highest number. The outbreak is linked to the deaths of two Amish infants and two adults (an 18-year-old from Mifflin County and a 40-year-old woman from Jefferson County), marking the state's first measles-related deaths and the most in the nation in over three decades.

    “Babies are dying. You're going to lose too many babies.”
    — Roberta Devers, Traditional midwife · source

What people are saying 2 voices from 1 site · verbatim