Health officials urged residents to get vaccinated before the start of the school year, provided updates on measles cases, warned about vaccine skepticism and discussed a new flu vaccine built on the same mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines, during County Executive Marc Elrich’s weekly news conference Wednesday.
Dr. Georges Benjamin, chief executive officer of the American Public Health Association, warned of the broader implications of measles nationwide.
“It’s just a tragedy. It’s just a disease you don’t want to get,” Benjamin said. “You get really, really sick when you get measles.”
Measles cases have risen nationwide this year, with 2,371 confirmed cases reported as of 2026, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the highest annual total in the United States since 1991.
In Maryland, Benjamin praised the state’s high vaccination rates. Although cases can appear sporadically, he said, “that’s why we are not seeing the outbreaks that we’re seeing in other states.”
The Maryland Department of Health has confirmed 13 measles cases statewide.
Moderna’s mFlusiva awaits FDA approval
The Food and Drug Administration is evaluating the first seasonal flu vaccine to use mRNA technology, developed by Moderna for adults 50 and older, ahead of the coming flu season.
“I’m very excited about it because I think this is the future, not just for infectious disease, but mRNA vaccines for cancer and a whole range of other chronic diseases,” Benjamin said.
The technology has drawn public debate. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said mRNA technology “poses more risks than benefits for these respiratory viruses.”
Montgomery County health officials defended the vaccine, saying the technology allows for faster development of vaccines tailored to match each year’s dominant flu strain.
Free student vaccination clinics
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services offers free student vaccination clinics through Friday, Sept. 25.
The clinics help parents and caregivers avoid last-minute appointments and delays that could keep children out of class. Maryland requires students keep vaccinations up to date from kindergarten through 12th grade.
To schedule an appointment or confirm clinic hours, call one of the following Montgomery County immunization clinics:
- Dennis Avenue Health Center: 240-777-1050
- Germantown Health Center: 240-777-3380
- Silver Spring Health Center: 240-777-3160
- School Health Services Immunization Center: 240-740-4430
