• MMR vaccination rates fell by 3% from 93.92% to 91.26% post-pandemic.
• 78% of U.S. counties reported decreased vaccination rates, with only four states showing increases.
• Measles cases have surged with over 1,000 confirmed cases this year, mainly among unvaccinated individuals.

A new report reveals a significant decline in childhood measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates across the United States. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University analyzed data from 2,066 counties across 33 states from 2019 to 2024 and found that 78% of these counties experienced a drop in vaccination rates, decreasing from an average of 93.92% pre-pandemic to 91.26% post-pandemic, marking a total decline of about 3%, according to ABC News, HuffPost, and CBS News.

Only four states — California, Connecticut, Maine, and New York — reported increases in their MMR vaccination rates. The study highlighted significant disparities in vaccination coverage within and between states, stressing the importance of understanding these variations to inform targeted vaccination strategies. "We have a problem in this country right now with vaccination rates dropping in a lot of locations," stated Lauren Gardner, the study's senior author and director of the Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering, according to ABC News and HuffPost.

Amid ongoing outbreaks, which primarily affect Texas, over 1,088 measles cases have been documented in the U.S. this year, a significant resurgence since measles was declared eliminated in the country in 2000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 96% of those affected were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Such outbreaks are concerning as the U.S. moves away from the critical herd immunity threshold of 95%, making communities more susceptible, according to CBS News and HuffPost.

Health experts have identified the rise of anti-vaccine misinformation as a contributing factor to the decreased vaccination rates. A separate study noted that misinformation about the MMR vaccine's safety and efficacy has permeated social media, increasing vaccine hesitancy among parents. “Misinformation is not new... but its effect on vaccine hesitancy through social media is an urgent global threat to public health,” said Kai Ruggeri, a lead author in that study, according to HuffPost.

The CDC has urged communities to address these declining vaccination rates, emphasizing the safety and effectiveness of the MMR vaccine, which is reported to be 93% effective after one dose and 97% after two doses. Public health officials stress that even minimal increases in vaccination could dramatically reduce measles cases, making it a "very preventable problem," according to ABC News, HuffPost, and CBS News.