MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three more young children in Minneapolis have contracted measles, including two who were not immunized because of fears about the safety of the vaccine.

The Minnesota Department of Health says a total of four measles cases involving children have been reported in the past two weeks. Three of the children were hospitalized.

Health officials say the vaccination rate has dropped in Minnesota’s Somali community, mainly because of misconceptions about the vaccine’s safety. Some parents are concerned the vaccine may be linked to autism, despite medical reports that debunk that notion.

The Star Tribune reports that Minnesota’s health commissioner, Dr. Edward Ehlinger, says the measles vaccine is safe and effective. He says that without it, the risk of the disease is very real. Ehlinger says the disease can be fatal for children.