Measles Vaccination Rates Plummet Post-COVID: A Public Health Concern
Colaboradores
A new study published in JAMA reveals a concerning trend: measles vaccination rates among children have significantly declined in nearly 80% of U.S. counties since the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline is particularly alarming in states currently grappling with measles outbreaks, raising serious public health concerns.
The Decline in Measles Vaccinations
The Johns Hopkins University study highlights the vulnerability of communities and mirrors the established trend of decreasing routine childhood vaccination rates nationwide. According to Lauren Gardner, an expert in infectious disease modeling at Johns Hopkins University, these drastic drops, though not always apparent at the state or national level, are real and problematic.
Measles Resurgence: A Threat to Public Health
The majority of measles cases reported in the U.S. this year—1,088 as of Friday—occurred in unvaccinated individuals. The disease is spreading rapidly within communities due to both international and domestic travel. Tragically, three people have already died from measles during the current outbreaks, pushing 2025 to potentially become the worst year for measles in over three decades.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, thanks to widespread vaccination efforts. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and highly effective, and most public schools require two doses before kindergarten. However, the number of children with non-medical exemptions from these vaccination requirements reached a record high during the 2023-2024 school year.
Importance of Herd Immunity
Health experts emphasize that community-level vaccination coverage must reach 95% or higher to effectively prevent measles outbreaks. Falling short of this threshold compromises herd immunity, leaving communities susceptible to widespread infection and severe health consequences. The decline in vaccination rates threatens to undo decades of progress in eradicating this preventable disease.