What's happened
Vaccination rates among U.S. kindergartners have dropped, with exemptions rising to 3.3%. This decline, attributed to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, has led to increased cases of preventable diseases like whooping cough and measles, raising alarms among health officials.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the share of kindergartners exempted from vaccinations rose to 3.3%, with health officials noting that this translates to about 80,000 children not vaccinated. Dr. Raynard Washington emphasized the significance of these changes, linking them to rising cases of vaccine-preventable diseases. Axios highlights that at least 15,661 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the U.S. this year, with infants under one year old being the most affected. The New York Times points out that vaccine fatigue and confusion over new RSV vaccines have also contributed to low uptake rates among older adults, indicating a broader trend of hesitancy that could impact future vaccination efforts.
How we got here
Vaccination rates have historically been high due to school mandates. However, recent trends show a rise in non-medical exemptions, influenced by misinformation and changing public attitudes towards vaccines, particularly post-COVID-19.
Common question
-
What is Causing the Recent Rise in Whooping Cough Cases?
The recent surge in whooping cough cases has raised alarms among health officials, primarily linked to declining vaccination rates among children. With misinformation and vaccine hesitancy on the rise, many parents are left wondering how to protect their children and what steps are being taken to address this public health concern. Below are some common questions and answers regarding this troubling trend.
More on these topics
-
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a national public health institute in the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
-
The Food and Drug Administration is a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments.