Key points
- Three-quarters of counties show sharp drops
- Vaccine exemptions doubled in 53pc counties
- Kennedy criticised for vaccine skepticism
ISTANBUL: The majority of counties in the United States have been witnessing a steady decline in childhood vaccination rates over recent years, according to a media report.
This conclusion follows a six-month investigation by NBC in collaboration with Stanford University, which compiled extensive data from state governments and public record archives covering years and, in some cases, decades.
One of the investigation’s key findings of the report published on Tuesday reveals that a significant portion of the US no longer meets the baseline immunity levels that health professionals consider vital to preventing the spread of measles—a disease that was once nearly eradicated.
Declines in childhood vaccination coverage
Since 2019, more than three-quarters of US counties and jurisdictions have experienced notable declines in childhood vaccination coverage, with drops ranging from less than 1 percentage point to over 40 percentage points, the analysis found.
Across the country, there has also been a rise in vaccine exemptions for school-aged children. In up to 53 per cent of counties and jurisdictions, exemption rates have more than doubled since their first year of data collection.
The report coincides with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announcing the removal of all vaccine requirements for school attendance—a dramatic shift away from longstanding public health policy in the United States.
Furthermore, the investigation noted that in states where data on the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is available, 68 per cent of counties and jurisdictions now fall below the 95 per cent coverage threshold.
Families seeking vaccine exemptions
This figure is critical, as 95 per cent is the herd immunity level recommended by doctors to prevent the spread of measles outbreaks.
St. Louis, Missouri, is highlighted as a striking example of the wider trend. The percentage of children entering kindergarten with all required vaccinations has decreased significantly, from 91.6 per cent in the 2010–2011 academic year to 75.9 per cent in 2024–2025.
Additionally, the proportion of families seeking vaccine exemptions for their children has increased markedly—from 0.3 per cent in 2010 to 3.4 per cent in the current school year. In Missouri, exemptions may be granted on either medical or religious grounds.
The report also arrives amid criticism directed at Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. He has come under fire for incorporating vaccine scepticism into public health policy, challenging the established efficacy of vaccines and appointing vaccine sceptics to influential roles.
