With an increase in measles cases recently reported in eastern Pennsylvania, St. Luke\u2019s pediatricians are encouraging parents to take steps to protect their children, including discussing an accelerated vaccination schedule with their child’s healthcare provider.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeasles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, but vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect your child and those around them,\u201d said Jennifer Janco, MD, Chair of St. Luke\u2019s Pediatrics.<\/p>\n
Dr. Janco recommends that parents of children who live in or plan to travel to areas where measles cases have been reported consult their pediatrician about whether an earlier vaccination schedule may be appropriate:<\/p>\n
An up-to-date list of Pennsylvania counties with confirmed measles cases is available at\u00a0www.pa.gov\/measles<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe strongly encourage parents to contact their child\u2019s healthcare provider, especially before traveling, to ensure their child is up to date on recommended vaccinations and adequately protected against measles,\u201d Dr. Janco said.<\/p>\n About St. Luke\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n Founded in 1872, St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network with annual net revenue of more than $4.5 billion. With 23,000+ employees at 16 hospital campuses and 350+ outpatient sites, it is the Lehigh Valley\u2019s biggest employer.<\/p>\n The Network\u2019s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital is based at the Bethlehem Campus.<\/p>\n Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke\u2019s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania. In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only four-year medical school. It also operates the nation\u2019s oldest continuously operated School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 60+ fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with 550+ residents and fellows. Additionally, the St. Luke\u2019s College of Health Sciences opened in 2026.<\/p>\n In 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ranked St. Luke\u2019s #1 \u2013 ahead of Houston Methodist and Mayo Clinic, two of the nation\u2019s most prestigious institutions \u2013 as the nation\u2019s top health system for quality, safety and patient experience. This objective recognition, based on public data reported to the government, reaffirms St. Luke\u2019s preeminent position as THE BEST OF THE BEST among the most respected health care systems in the United States.<\/p>\n St. Luke\u2019s has been named a Leapfrog Group Top Hospital and a Newsweek World\u2019s Best Hospital. In 2026, all of the Network\u2019s eligible hospital campuses were awarded Medicare\u2019s highest ratings for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. The Network also earned straight A\u2019s for safety from Leapfrog across all of its acute care hospitals. It has earned 100 Top Hospital designations from Premier 12 years in a row, including in 2026 when the Network was identified as THE #1 MEDIUM-SIZE HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of SLUHN\u2019s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information.<\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: With an increase in measles cases recently reported in eastern Pennsylvania, St. Luke\u2019s pediatricians are encouraging parents to take steps to protect their children, including discussing an accelerated vaccination schedule with their child’s healthcare provider. \u201cMeasles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, but vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect … Continue reading St. Luke\u2019s Urges Parents to Be Vigilant Amid Increased Measles Risk<\/span>
\nSam Kennedy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"