Nearly 250,000 children in the United States have become vulnerable to measles amid a decline in vaccination rates, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Last school year, authorities found that immunization for measles, polio, and other diseases again dropped among kindergartners. It is a trend that public health officials have warned could put children at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and illnesses.
Drop in Vaccination Rates
Officials revealed that roughly 93% of kindergartners during the 2021-22 school year could complete vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella; diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; polio; and chickenpox. The number dropped roughly 1% from 2020-21 and nearly 2% from the prior year before the coronavirus pandemic began.
The figures come from a study released by the CDC on Thursday, which did not track the number of children who received COVID-19 vaccines or boosters. Public health officials noted that the report showed that school-age vaccination rates dropped during the health crisis as families could not make doctor's visits, and school routines were disrupted, according to USA Today.
On the other hand, a separate study from the CDC, also released on Thursday, reported that vaccination rates among two-year-old kids were similar to numbers before the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts noted that misinformation regarding the coronavirus vaccine is one factor that could have influenced parents' decisions. However, officials warned that such a link requires more study to be accurately determined.
In a statement, the chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, Dr. Sean O'Leary, said that misinformation is an issue that has always been problematic. The medical professional added that they are trying to understand the extent to which disinformation regarding COVID-19 has become spreading misinformation about other childhood vaccines.
Threat of Measles, Other Diseases
The head of the CDC's immunization services division, Dr. Georgina Peacock, said that while the numbers might not sound significant, they meant that nearly 250,000 children were not protected against measles. On Thursday, she said that recent numbers are the lowest vaccination rates for measles, mumps, and rubella, CNBC reported.
The latest measles outbreak in Columbus, Ohio, has already infected 83 children, 33 of whom were sent to hospitals to be treated. Fortunately, none of the affected kids died, but authorities noted that the majority of them, 78, was not vaccinated.
O'Leary added that the recent outbreaks harm children and could cause significant disruptions in their opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. He warned that the current situation is alarming and should be a call for action for everyone.
On top of being potentially fatal, the measles virus can weaken an infected person's immune system and makes young kids more vulnerable to other diseases, including pneumonia and diarrhea. This side effect lasts for several months after the human body clears the measles infection.
During a briefing, O'Leary championed vaccines, arguing it as essential because it helps children's immune systems recognize and resist disease to develop properly and live healthy lives until they become adults, as per The Washington Post.
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