A measles outbreak in western Texas with at least 15 confirmed cases has renewed worries about declining childhood vaccination rates.
Once considered a disease of the past, measles is now coming back, with health experts cautioning that low immunization levels could open doors for other preventable diseases like polio and chickenpox.
This is set against a grim backdrop: widespread vaccine hesitancy nationwide. In Florida, kindergarten vaccination rates have fallen to 88.1%, their lowest level in decades.
So far, at least 10 other states also report declining levels, imperiling herd immunity.
Parents Are Opting Out: Why?
Some parents, like Tiffany Vargas of Tampa, believe that vaccine mistrust stems from unresolved issues.
“We don’t oppose vaccinations. We simply want greater openness,” she argues. To get around stringent vaccination requirements, Vargas even moved her family from New York to Florida.
The Dangers Ahead Experts caution that these diminishing numbers may trigger the resurgence of massive epidemics, including Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen of the University of Florida.
“90% is not enough to stop diseases from spreading,” he warns. “We are at great risk of seeing polio re-emerge.”
Parents are becoming more hesitant about vaccinations, despite the overwhelming support of the medical community.
In the absence of a change, the United States may experience a risky return of diseases that can be prevented.
