When a measles outbreak was identified in a neighboring county just north of the Southern Seven service area, S7HD was faced with a choice: wait to respond once measles crossed county lines, or act proactively. Recognizing that people regularly cross county borders for school, work, groceries, and healthcare, the department chose to act early. With support from the Illinois Department of Public Health and trusted partners, S7HD moved quickly to prepare. 

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases public health professionals encounter. Individuals can spread the virus before they know they are sick, making prevention and preparedness essential. In rural communities like those served by Southern Seven, barriers such as limited healthcare access, transportation challenges, and lower vaccination rates can amplify risk once an outbreak begins. 

Understanding this, the department grounded its approach in three pillars: collaboration, data, and strong school partnerships. 

Southern Seven’s ability to respond rapidly was not accidental. It was the result of relationships built long before the threat was immediate. Each partner clearly understood their role. S7HD focused on schools, community outreach, coordination, and preparedness. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) provided clinical guidance, testing support, and outbreak consultation. And Chicago Internal Medicine Practice and Research (CIMPAR) supported provider engagement and vaccination planning. 

Communication was regular, trust was established, and collaboration felt seamless because these were not new relationships, they were strengthened versions of existing ones. This effective collaboration led to a lasting outcome. The Director of Nursing was invited to join the Illinois Immunization Advisory Council, further strengthening connections between local and state partners. 

Preparation began with a close look at the data. Southern Seven analyzed school-level vaccination rates and exemption data, using an online immunization system to validate records. This information was shared directly with school nurses and administrators to ensure transparency and shared understanding. 

Two tools played a key role: A School Vaccination Coverage Dashboard, which allowed staff to view vaccination rates by county and individual school. A Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard, customized for specific schools, showing how quickly measles could spread if a single infected student entered the building, and how many others could be exposed before the illness was recognized. 

For school administrators, the simulator was particularly impactful. Seeing the potential speed and scale of transmission made the risk tangible and underscored the importance of preparedness. Using these tools, Southern Seven identified schools that were below herd immunity thresholds and took a targeted approach, focusing efforts where they were most needed. 

Rather than simply sharing data, Southern Seven empowered schools to use it. Staff walked school administrators through both dashboard tools and provided education for school personnel and parents to help interpret the information in a clear, non-alarming way. As a result, schools transitioned from passive recipients of information to active partners in prevention. When schools felt informed and prepared, they acted quickly and confidently, strengthening the entire community response system. 

Southern Seven’s approach emphasized that awareness alone is not enough. Access matters, especially in rural areas. The department worked closely with schools and parents to ensure messaging around measles and the MMR vaccine was clear, understandable, and calm. At the same time, they focused on removing barriers. Ensuring adequate MMR vaccine supply for both children and adults, planning with CIMPAR to rapidly stand-up mass vaccination clinics if needed, and bringing vaccines directly to schools and rural communities, rather than expecting families to overcome transportation challenges on their own. The strategy wasn’t just encouraging vaccination, it was making vaccination easier. 

Even without confirmed measles cases in the service area, Southern Seven prioritized readiness. The department conducted an incident command tabletop exercise with leadership and staff, walking through a realistic measles scenario to confirm roles, responsibilities, and first-response steps. They reinforced disease reporting expectations, strengthened communication pathways with the state health department, and created a dedicated measles information channel on the staff’s Teams page, ensuring that guidance, resources, and updates were easy to find in real time. 

Southern Seven encountered familiar challenges: vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, limited school capacity, and data-sharing and privacy barriers that complicated outreach. What carried the department through these obstacles was consistent, coordinated messaging and strong collaboration across partners. 

Looking ahead, Southern Seven plans to use NACCHO’s School-Located Vaccination Toolkit to further increase vaccination rates and reduce access barriers in the coming year. 

Several key lessons emerged from this work: 

• Start with the data: know where the gaps are. 

• Engage schools early and treat them as partners. 

• Build relationships before you need them.