Montgomery County is holding its first-ever community MMR vaccine clinics as Pennsylvania's measles death toll climbs to five, the state's deadliest outbreak in more than 35 years.

The county has scheduled eight clinics in October, NBC10 Philadelphia reported. Health officials said cost should not prevent anyone from getting vaccinated.

"We have never given MMR at clinics like this before," Kalyn Roberts of the Montgomery County Department of Health told NBC10.

One confirmed location: Montgomery County Community College's Blue Bell campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, will host a free clinic Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., according to the college's schedule. Walk-ins are welcome, but advance registration is recommended. COVID-19 and flu vaccines will also be available.

Uninsured or underinsured residents can call the Norristown health clinic at 610-278-5145 or the Pottstown clinic at 610-970-5040 to schedule a free vaccine, Main Line Media News reported in August.

No local cases, but rates are slipping

Montgomery County has reported no cases tied to the outbreak, according to the county Office of Public Health website, updated Oct. 2.

Still, MMR vaccination rates among kindergartners have dropped about 1 percentage point in Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties since 2020, Main Line Media News reported in August, citing state records. All three counties now sit just below the 95% threshold considered necessary for herd immunity.

Statewide toll

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced Wednesday, Sept. 30, that an unvaccinated Lancaster County resident who tested positive for measles had died. The state has confirmed 943 cases across 39 of its 67 counties, with 176 hospitalizations. Lancaster County alone accounts for 381 cases, roughly 40% of the total.

The other four deaths include two infants in Lancaster County, an 18-year-old Mifflin County resident and a 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County, Patch reported. The last two occurred in mid-September.

The statewide vaccination push has accelerated sharply. Health care providers administered more than 53,000 MMR doses in September, more than double the typical 25,000 per month, the state health department said. State nurses have given more than 8,500 doses at pop-up clinics and health centers since the outbreak began in late April.

Only four of the state's 943 confirmed cases involved vaccinated people. The two-dose MMR vaccine provides 97% lifetime protection, according to the health department.

Seasonal concern

Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, the Lancaster County coroner, told CNN that measles and other respiratory illnesses tend to worsen in fall and winter, warning the outbreak could intensify.

Residents who suspect measles exposure should call a health care provider before leaving home or contact the Montgomery County Office of Public Health at 610-278-5117.