Child’s upper arm with a cotton ball and tape on vaccination site. – Alexxndr // Shutterstock
Childhood vaccination rates have declined across 1,600 counties in the U.S. since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent study from Johns Hopkins University revealed that 78% of over 2,000 counties reported decreases, with the average immunization rate dropping to 91%, falling below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. While previous data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown a general decrease in measles-mumps-rubella vaccination rates on a state and national level, the county-level analysis published in JAMA on June 2 provides more detailed insights.
According to the study’s senior author, Lauren Gardner, the county-level analysis offers a better understanding of areas with high risk, allowing policymakers and health professionals to focus resources on improving vaccination coverage and preventing potential measles outbreaks. The ongoing measles outbreak in the country has infected over 1,000 individuals in 30 states, resulting in the deaths of two unvaccinated children. This year’s case numbers have exceeded those of 2024, marking the second-highest number of confirmed cases since measles was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000.
Gardner and her team collected county-level MMR vaccine rates for kindergarteners from state health department websites, analyzing trends in 2,066 counties across 33 states. The data revealed significant drops in vaccination rates in some counties, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. The study also noted a concerning trend that if vaccination rates continue to decline, measles could become endemic in the U.S.
While most states experienced a decrease in median county-level vaccination rates, California, Connecticut, Maine, and New York reported an increase. These four states only allow medical exemptions for school-aged children, unlike philosophical or religious exemptions permitted in other states. The study underscores the crucial role of vaccinations in preventing disease outbreaks and emphasizes the importance of maintaining high immunization rates to protect public health.
A controversial report titled “Make America Healthy Again” was released on May 22, raising concerns for misinterpreting studies, referencing non-existent studies, and potentially being partly generated by artificial intelligence. The report, which did not involve any pediatricians, raises doubts about the safety and importance of certain childhood vaccines.
According to the report, there has been insufficient scientific research into the potential links between vaccines and chronic diseases, the impact of vaccine-related injuries, and conflicts of interest in developing vaccination schedules. However, expert Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, disputed these claims.
Offit emphasized that extensive research has been conducted, showing no evidence of connections between childhood vaccines and chronic diseases such as diabetes and autism. He pointed to 24 studies involving thousands of children across multiple countries and continents, which found no increased risk of autism in those who receive the MMR vaccine.
Recent skepticism extends beyond just the measles vaccine, as the Food and Drug Administration, under the Department of Health and Human Services, updated its guidance to no longer recommend the COVID vaccine for healthy children or pregnant women. This led to the resignation of a top COVID vaccine adviser at the CDC. Additionally, several states have proposed legislation to relax vaccine requirements for school-aged children, allowing more parents to opt out of vaccination.
Offit expressed concern about the growing anti-vaccine sentiment, warning that vaccines are increasingly under attack. He criticized the Health and Human Services secretary for potentially making vaccines less available, less affordable, and more feared. This challenging environment raises worries about the well-being of children in the United States.
This article was created by The 74, reviewed, and shared by Stacker.
