Oklahoma issues school guidance on vaccines
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As the U.S. closes in on 1,000 confirmed measles cases in the past four months, Oklahoma health officials are asking schools to be more proactive about warning parents about the spread of the disease — especially those who have chosen not vaccinate their children.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health issued a May 1 memo that advises school districts to contact parents of children with a vaccine exemption on file to inform them about the current outbreak and emphasize the importance of the measles vaccine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 935 confirmed cases of measles have been recorded across the United States in 2025 through May 1. While most have been in Texas and New Mexico, Oklahoma has 14 confirmed and another three probable cases. All but two of those Oklahoma cases involved unvaccinated people.
Health Department to schools: Warn parents about measles
In its unsigned memo written for school administrators, the state Health Department advises schools to communicate with families and staff, promote vaccination, strengthen their health messaging and monitor for symptoms among students.
Although children are technically required to have up-to-date vaccinations by the time they enter public schools in Oklahoma, the state allows parents to submit exemptions for medical or non-medical reasons. According to the latest data collected by the CDC, 5.5% of Oklahoma kindergarteners showed up school last year with a non-medical exemption for at least one vaccine.
The rate of non-medical exemptions skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as vaccinations became more politicized. A decade ago, the exemption rate was 1.5%.
The state Health Department memo calls on schools to ensure their students are either up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations or have an exemption on file.
Next, the letter asks schools to inform parents that measles has been identified in Oklahoma, “emphasizing the importance of vaccination and exclusion should measles be identified within the school community.”
“As long as uncontrolled spread from the Texas and New Mexico outbreak continues, there will be a risk for increased measles cases in Oklahoma,” the Health Department memo said. “Due to the complexity and scale of the outbreak, it is anticipated to take time for it to be under control.”
More Oklahomans getting vaccinated from measles
Despite years of vaccine skepticism in Oklahoma, data from the state Health Department suggests that the current outbreak has spurred more parents than usual to get their children vaccinated.
The number of new MMR vaccine records on file at the state Health Department has grown considerably in 2025. Doses recorded for children under 1 year old went from about one per week in January to 69 during the last week of April.
The number of all other children getting the MMR vaccine each week has nearly doubled. Adult vaccinations have tripled.
“We have observed (or noted) a concurrent growing rise in interest regarding MMR vaccine information, administration of MMR, and immunization records at our local county health departments,” said Erica Rankin-Riley, a spokesperson for the state Health Department. “We have also been actively sharing educational materials about the MMR vaccination through our social media channels and our measles webpage.”
How to check if you’ve had the measles vaccine
Doctors recommend at least two doses of the MMR vaccine to ensure lifelong resistance to infection.
If you’re not sure about you or your child’s vaccine status, the Oklahoma State Immunization Information System (OSIIS) portal will probably have the records on file.
Medical providers aren’t required to submit vaccination records to health officials, but many do. The portal has records going back decades. Each state maintains its own vaccination records database, but not all are as easy to check as Oklahoma’s.
To check a vaccination record, go to the portal site at shotrecords.health.ok.gov and follow the instructions to verify your identity.
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