US childhood vaccination rates have fallen for the fifth consecutive year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The number of kindergarteners exempt from one or more vaccines reached a record high, with 3.6% of children claiming medical exemptions.
The CDC reported that vaccine coverage for shots protecting against measles, polio, chickenpox, whooping cough, and hepatitis B have been under 95% since the 2020-2021 school year. This trend is concerning as it poses a risk to herd immunity.
Experts warn that this decline in vaccination rates, combined with concentrated pockets of exemptions, can lead to sustained outbreaks. Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist, stated, “The gap, combined with concentrated pockets of exemptions, is exactly how sustained outbreaks gain a foothold.”
Non-medical exemptions, often driven by misinformation and personal reasons, have surged in 36 states, with 17 states reporting exemption rates exceeding 5%. Nearly all exemptions were listed as non-medical.
As the US sees its highest number of measles cases since 1992, federal health officials are concerned about the impact of declining vaccination rates. Measles cases have reached an estimated 92.5% among kindergarteners who received the polio and measles vaccines, leaving approximately 286,000 children vulnerable to the disease.
The CDC data also shows that only 94% of kindergartners were vaccinated against hepatitis B, while fewer than 92% were vaccinated against chickenpox and whooping cough. The recent record level of whooping cough cases, with over 35,000 reported, has raised concerns about the declining vaccination rates.
The shift in public health messaging, prioritizing personal choice over community protection, has also been criticized. Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, stated, “By making sure all children can access immunizations before entering school with their classmates, children are best able to stay healthy to play, learn, and grow.”
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/childhood-vaccination-rates-fall-5th-straight-year-cdc/story?id=124287412