A recent study by Johns Hopkins University found a significant decline in measles vaccination rates among children across most U.S. counties. The data shows a decrease from 93.92% in 2017-2018 to 91.26% in the 2023-2024 school year, with only four states – California, Connecticut, Maine, and New York – experiencing an increase. A total of 78% of counties saw a decline in vaccination rates, highlighting significant diversity in vaccine coverage within and across states.
The study highlights the need for targeted vaccination strategies, as measles remains a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious health complications or death. According to the CDC, 96% of reported US cases have an unknown or unvaccinated status, making herd immunity challenging to achieve.
“Counties with vaccination rates below 95% are particularly vulnerable to measles outbreaks,” said Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also reported state-level declines in kindergarten vaccination coverage, with the rate among U.S. kindergartners decreasing from 95.2% to 92.7% over the same period.
The study’s findings come amid the largest measles outbreak in the US since 2019, with 1,088 cases reported across the country as of May 30, mostly in West Texas.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-vaccination-rates-us-counties-study