Immunization rates in the United States have declined in recent years, and some preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough have reemerged.
Immunizations prevent millions of deaths around the world each year from diseases like influenza, polio and measles. Diseases that once routinely harmed or killed people are now prevented by safe and effective vaccines. Yet for a variety of reasons, immunization rates in the United States have declined in recent years, and some preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough have reemerged.
Why is this? What impact can it have on our overall health? What can we do to stay safe from vaccine-preventable diseases? Learn more about immunization and find answers to your questions below.
Why Are Vaccination Rates Declining?
From birth through age 18, people in the U.S. are routinely immunized against a wide range of preventable diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus and other diseases. However, childhood vaccination rates have declined in the last several years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at the start of the 2022-2023 school year the vaccination rate among incoming kindergartners was 93%, falling below what communities need to reach herd immunity (when enough people are immune to a disease that it’s harder for it to spread in the community). Because of this, outbreaks of deadly diseases like measles are becoming more common.
A variety of factors have contributed to this decline, including:
- Disruption of routine health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people missed regular health care appointments during the pandemic, including routine vaccinations.
- Barriers to accessing health care. For some people, a lack of insurance, safe transportation and poverty can make it difficult to access health care. According to the CDC, vaccination rates are lower for uninsured families who live below the poverty level as well as for children in rural areas.
- Distrust of the health care system. Negative experiences, mistreatment and historic discrimination have left a deep distrust of health care embedded in certain communities.
- Polarization surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine. With the fast spreading and quickly changing COVID-19 virus, many people lost trust in the experts as they had to update recommendations and adapt to the new virus.
- Increase in vaccine hesitancy. A growing number of people are becoming skeptical about vaccines and worry that vaccines aren’t safe, despite their proven safety record.
- Increase in the spread of vaccine misinformation. With more people relying on social media for health information, misinformation can be spread quickly and easily.
Why Are Vaccines Important?
- Vaccines help us avoid community outbreaks of preventable diseases. Diseases like measles are so contagious that if one person contracts it, many people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.
- Vaccines protect individuals who are unable to get vaccinated, such as infants, people who are too old, people who are immune-compromised, people on chemotherapy and more. When a large percentage of the population is immune, those people are less likely to catch a preventable disease.
- Vaccines are effective at preventing death and serious illness. People all over the world, including in the U.S., still become seriously ill from vaccine-preventable diseases or the dangerous complications that can occur when contracted. For example, getting the flu vaccine each year can reduce your chances of becoming hospitalized from the flu or contracting more serious flu-related pneumonia. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical cancer, but an HPV vaccine can protect you from becoming infected or passing the virus on to others.
What Steps Should I Take to Ensure I Stay Safe?
- Learn more about vaccine safety. If you’re hesitant about getting a vaccine or have heard information that worries you, take the time to learn more. You can start by talking to your health care providers, learning how vaccines are approved or doing your own evidence-based research on common vaccine safety questions you may have.
- Consult your health care provider. Many of us trust our health care providers with aspects of our health and wellness, such as our risk for cancer, our medications to prevent high blood pressure and much more. Vaccine safety and effectiveness are no different. Reach out with your questions and concerns to the people you trust for your overall health and wellness.
- Get up to date on your vaccines. The CDC offers immunization schedules based on your age that can be printed and shared with your health care provider. You can also learn more about recommended vaccines based on your age, occupation, or if you have certain health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease on the Department of Veterans Affairs Vaccines and Immunization page.
Keep yourself and your loved ones safe from preventable diseases. Learn more about what vaccines are recommended for you.