CDC Reports 23 Measles Cases Across U.S. Amid Falling Vaccination Rates

Most cases are among unvaccinated children and teenagers, with a significant drop in MMR vaccination rates observed over the past two school years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 23 measles cases across the U.S. between Dec. 1 and Jan. 23, including seven direct importations by international travelers and two outbreaks with more than five cases each.
Most of the cases were among children and teenagers who had not been vaccinated against the virus, with nine of them reported by the health department in Philadelphia.
The nationwide MMR vaccination rate has fallen by two percentage points over the past two school years, after sitting firmly at 95% for 10 years.
In Georgia, an estimated 88% of young children have received at least one dose of the recommended “MMR” vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella, down from 94% in 2019.
Measles is so contagious that herd immunity against measles requires about 95% of the population to be vaccinated.