Measles vaccinations struggle in Minnesota's Somali Community : Shared by Tom McDermott

Discussions of declining US vaccination rates often overlook disparities among immigrant communities. In Minnesota's large Somali population, measles vaccination rates have collapsed from 92% to 24% over two decades, driven by misinformation linking the MMR vaccine to autism—a condition that affects Somali children at rates 3.5 times higher than white children for reasons researchers cannot explain.

 Recent federal immigration enforcement targeting Somalis has further undermined public health efforts, with families now afraid to leave their homes or seek medical care, despite most Minnesota Somalis being US citizens. President Trump's political attacks on the community have intensified these fears, effectively halting vaccination outreach programs just as the US faces losing its measles elimination status. Tom

Fear in Minnesota's Somali community deepens, hampering progress on measles vaccination

Devi Shastri, Associated Press

AP News

February 6, 2026

Click here for the article

Summary:

Public health officials and community leaders in Minneapolis say that measles vaccination rates among Minnesota's large Somali community have plummeted, with vaccination rates dropping from 92% in 2006 to approximately 24% today among Somali 2-year-olds, far below the 95% rate needed to prevent outbreaks. 

The myth that the measles shot causes autism has spread despite four measles outbreaks since 2011, with estimated autism rates in Somali 4-year-olds being 3.5 times higher than those of white 4-year-olds in Minnesota for reasons researchers don't understand. 

Recent federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis has further hampered vaccination efforts, with many residents fearing to leave home or seek medical care. Mobile clinics and a vaccine confidence task force had noted small victories before the crackdown, but discussion groups have shifted online indefinitely and community engagement has stalled. 

About 84,000 Somalis live in the Twin Cities area, most of whom are U.S. citizens, and the community represents the country's largest Somali population. 

Minnesota's overall kindergarten MMR vaccination rate has dropped more than 6 percentage points in the past five years. While less than 1 in 4 Somali kids in Minnesota is vaccinated against measles by age 2, 86% get at least one dose by age 6. Minnesota logged 26 measles cases last year across several different communities with pockets of unvaccinated people, and the U.S. is on the verge of losing its measles elimination status.

Quotes:

"People are worried about survival. Vaccines are the last thing on people's minds. But it is a big issue." - Munira Maalimisaq, CEO of the Inspire Change Clinic

"People are stuck in their homes, cannot go to work. It is madness. And the last thing to think about is talking about autism, talking about childhood vaccination. Adults cannot get out of the house, forget about kids." - Imam Yusuf Abdulle

"The misinformers will always fill the void." - Mahdi Warsama, CEO of the Somali Parents Autism Network

"Our kids are the ones who are getting sick. Our community is suffering." - Imam Abdulle

"So what did that tell me? It confirmed that autism is not from the MMR." - Mirad Farah, parent whose daughter developed autism despite delayed vaccination