With Canyons School District classes starting Monday, Aug. 17, Utah health officials are warning that the state's measles outbreak is not over and unvaccinated children face serious risk.

One-third of the more than 700 Utahns sickened during the outbreak have ended up in an emergency room, and 8% have been hospitalized, state epidemiologist Leisha Nolen said at a press conference Wednesday, Aug. 12, hosted by the Utah Academy of Family Physicians.

"This is not something we want families to gamble with; we want to make sure their kids are as protected as possible," Nolen said.

Kindergarten follows Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Cases slowing, but not gone

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services reported 715 confirmed cases as of its Aug. 11 update, including 518 diagnosed in 2026. Only two new cases were confirmed in the three weeks before that update, but wastewater sampling suggests additional undiagnosed infections may be circulating.

Utah has the nation's highest measles rate per capita. The state's kindergarten vaccination rate has dropped from 97.7% in 2009–2010 to 88.6% last year, well below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. Among unvaccinated Utahns, roughly one in 440 has caught measles during this outbreak. For vaccinated residents, that figure drops to one in 47,000.

'It goes really badly'

Dr. T.W. Jones, a pediatric disease specialist who has treated hospitalized children with measles, told the press conference that more children are immunocompromised now than when the vaccine was first introduced, including organ recipients and kids on newer medications. He called those children "profoundly vulnerable."

"It is not the common cold; it is not just a mild case of sniffles," Jones said. "Even the best case of measles is rough, families miss work, kids miss school, it costs them hundreds of dollars sometimes. … and when it goes badly, it goes really badly."

Measles symptoms begin with cough, runny nose, red watery eyes and high fever. The rash appears later, after the contagious window has already opened, meaning an infected child can spread the disease before parents know they are sick.

Where Sandy families can get vaccinated

Lee Cherie Booth, immunization nurse supervisor with the Salt Lake County Health Department, said no one will be turned away due to inability to pay. The federal Vaccines for Children program covers kids 18 and under who are uninsured or otherwise qualified, at $10 to $14.50 per dose. Most insurance plans cover vaccines at no out-of-pocket cost.

Same-day appointments are often available at:

• Salt Lake County Southeast Public Health Center, 9340 South 700 East, Sandy. Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 385-468-SHOT.
• Pharmacies, many open weekends.
• Pediatrician and family doctor offices.

Families can verify their children's immunization status through the Utah Statewide Immunization Information System at immunize.utah.gov/usiis, through their doctor, or through the county health department.

As we reported July 27, Canyons District requires immunization records during registration. Canyons nursing specialist Jen Gerrard has noted that a single confirmed measles case can trigger an outbreak response, with school nurses coordinating directly with the county health department.

The MMR vaccine is about 93% effective after one dose and 97% effective after two. Children older than 12 months can receive their second dose before age 4, as long as at least 28 days have passed since the first.

Canyons grades 1–12 start Monday, Aug. 17. The Southeast Health Center in Sandy is open Monday through Thursday for walk-in appointments: 385-468-SHOT.