As classrooms across the U.S. fill with the buzz of students settling in, public health experts are ringing alarm bells: vaccination rates among school-age children are on the decline.
Recent surveys suggest that coverage for key immunizations—measles, mumps and whooping cough—has slipped below the 95% threshold many communities rely on to block outbreaks. Even a few percentage points of decline can leave room for preventable diseases to resurface.
Parents cite a mix of factors: lingering pandemic fatigue, concerns about side effects and a flood of online misinformation. In some districts, school nurses report an uptick in exemption requests, while community clinics scramble to keep up with catch-up appointments.
Experts warn that falling short on vaccinations doesn’t just affect U.S. neighborhoods. In our interconnected world, lower coverage can undermine global efforts to stamp out disease. Travelers, exchange students and digital nomads all rely on robust immunity in every community they visit.
To reverse the trend, many school districts are launching back-to-school immunization drives, hosting pop-up clinics and sharing easy-to-digest resources for families. Health officials emphasize that routine vaccines are safe, effective and the best protection against serious childhood illnesses.
As the semester unfolds, the call is clear: catch up on missed shots, stay informed about recommended schedules and keep our classrooms—and our global community—healthy.
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Vaccination rates are dropping as children in US return to school
cgtn.com
