The South Dakota Department of Health continues to see a rise in measles cases as childhood vaccination rates decrease.
South Dakota Public Broadcasting reported for the fifth year in a row the state has seen a drop in immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella in children. However, the rate decreased from 90 percent to 89.9 percent from 2024 to 2025.
During the state’s government operations and audit meeting, the DOH presented the data and information for its performance management review.
Melissa Magstadt, secretary of the DOH, said the department sees the slight drop as an encouraging sign and hopes numbers rise in measles vaccination.
She mentioned the department stabilized immunization rates over the last year, but the number of parents claiming religious exemption is growing simultaneously.
Magstadt said it’s acceptable, but the department wants to ensure immunization rates don’t drop drastically year after year. She added the state is working to connect with isolated communities.
She stated the DOH has a goal to reach a 91.5 percentage rate of MMR immunization in children in 2028.
According to Magstadt, last year the state had 16 measles cases and 11 year-to-date. She added all the people who had measles last year were unvaccinated.
