NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Three of the Western Massachusetts counties, including the Berkshires, have fallen below the 95 percent vaccination level for measles, mumps, and rubella to ensure herd immunity. 

 

The Washington Post's Vaccination Report Card for the nation found Massachusetts as a whole was at 97 percent; the Berkshires has dipped to 91.8 percent in the years following the pandemic. 

 

Hampden County is at 93.8 percent and Franklin at 91.5 percent; Southern Vermont is even lower with Bennington County at 90 percent and Windham at 91. The two other low counties were Suffolk at 94.1 and Nantucket at 91 percent. 

 

The MMR vaccinations are given at about a year old and again around age 5. The percentages are based on reported vaccination levels by elementary schools, a majority of which did not have that information available. 

 

Brayton Elementary in North Adams and Craneville in Dalton reported the highest levels at 99 percent and 98 percent, respectively. Hoosac Valley Elementary in Adams, Lee Elementary and Muddy Brook Elementary in Great Barrington were all at 97 percent.

 

Pittsfield schools had the lowest reported data: Morningside Community was 94 percent, Stearns 88, Egremont 84 and Williams 80 percent. 

 

The two closest Vermont elementary schools — Pownal and Stamford — were also below herd immunity levels at 90 percent each. 

 

Massachusetts requires immunization for kindergartners but parents can opt out for personal and religious reasons. 

 

Measles is highly contagious and can cause ear infections, pneumonia and diarrhea, and in some cases can result in deafness, blindness and seizures. Rubella, or German measles, can cause birth defects or miscarriages and mumps tends to be mild but can cause organ damage.

 

There have been outbreaks across the country as the numbers of vaccinated children has decreased. More than 2,000 cases and three deaths were reported last year across the country, but not in Massachusetts, compared to less than 300 cases in 2024. 

 

Data and information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.