Speaker credits Connecticut vaccination rates for keeping measles out in 2025, cautions national elimination status at risk

Staff member (unspecified) said Connecticut’s high measles-mumps-rubella vaccination rates have helped keep the state among the small number that had not reported a measles case in 2025 and warned that broader U.S. transmission could cause the nation to lose its measles elimination status. "Measles cases are continuing to occur across The United States," the staff member said. "We are approaching a point where I think we will lose that elimination status in The United States Of America."

The speaker credited families, health care providers and public-health professionals for raising vaccination coverage above pre-pandemic levels and for protecting vulnerable groups. "And for Connecticut to be able to say that we are better than we were pre pandemic ... that is a testament to the Connecticut community," the staff member said, adding that Connecticut was "the number 1 vaccinated state in the country." The speaker also said the state remained "only 1 of 10 states that has not had a measles case" in 2025 and that high vaccination rates contributed to that record.

The staff member quoted the idea that the United States had previously achieved an elimination milestone, saying, "United States eliminated measles by the year February. That means that we didn't have sustained transmission of the virus over a year." The speaker cautioned, however, that "we may very well have a case in the months ahead" given cases elsewhere in the country.

The remarks emphasized populations the speaker said are protected by high vaccination rates: children, immunocompromised people and older adults. The transcript contains no reference to any formal motion, vote or policy action taken during these remarks.