Decline in U.S. Vaccination Rates Sparks Measles Outbreak Concerns
Vaccination rates for diseases like measles, diphtheria, and polio have declined among U.S. kindergartners in the 2024-25 school year. Amid a growing measles outbreak, the CDC confirms this drop in immunity could spark more concerns. The increase in vaccine exemptions also risks the herd immunity threshold.
Vaccination rates in the United States have seen a downward trend, revealing a decline in immunization among kindergartners for diseases such as measles, diphtheria, and polio in the 2024-25 school year. Federal data, unveiled Thursday, casts light on this concerning development amid a resurging measles outbreak.
Health experts attribute the issue partly to increased skepticism about vaccine safety, fueled by influential figures like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for questioning vaccines' safety, despite the scientific consensus. The current measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine coverage has dropped to 92.5%, potentially compromising herd immunity.
Ahead of this unsettling backdrop, an HHS spokesperson emphasized the effectiveness of vaccinations, despite rising exemptions. Such exemptions climbed to 3.6%, with medical or religious grounds often cited. Effectively addressing this trend is vital to averting broader public health impacts.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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