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Slide in measles vaccination rate among kindergartners raises alarm

New data underscores concern that parental resistance to childhood immunizations may fuel a resurgence of the disease in the U.S.

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Updated January 12, 2023 at 2:11 p.m. EST|Published January 12, 2023 at 1:01 p.m. EST
Only about 93 percent of American kindergartners were vaccinated with the required two doses in fall 2021, the second year in a row that measles, mumps and rubella coverage fell below the 95 percent level. (Brittany Murray/Long Beach Press-Telegram/Getty Images)
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More than 250,000 children who entered kindergarten in fall 2021 may be at risk for measles, one of the most infectious pathogens on the planet, because they did not receive the vaccinations required to enroll in school, according to federal health data released Thursday.

Only about 93 percent of American kindergartners were vaccinated against the potentially fatal disease with the required two doses — the second year in a row that measles mumps and rubella (MMR) coverage fell below the 95 percent level needed to prevent the virus from spreading in the community. The last time U.S. kindergartners had that protection was during the 2019-2020 school year, before the start of the pandemic.