Vaccination Rates are Declining as States Relax Rules
More states are loosening vaccine mandates, scaling back vaccine promotion efforts, and taking other steps likely to lower vaccination rates, even as a major measles outbreak spreads in Texas.
Public health experts worry that the confirmation of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services could add fuel to such efforts, leading to the resurgence of long-tamed infectious diseases. Kennedy has made numerous baseless or false claims about vaccines, including linking them to autism and cancer and saying there is "poison" in the coronavirus vaccine.
Already, vaccination rates are lower than they were before the pandemic. The COVID-19 vaccines saved millions of lives, but many Americans bristled at vaccine mandates, and disinformation and rapidly evolving public health advice undermined many people’s trust in scientific authorities.
Changing attitudes have had an impact: Vaccination rates among children born in 2020 and 2021 declined by between 1.3 and 7.8 percentage points for recommended shots, compared with children born in 2018 and 2019, according to a September report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"The anti-vaccination trend is the antithesis of public health," said Dr. Scott Rivkees, a pediatric endocrinologist who served as Florida’s surgeon general and health secretary from 2019 to 2021. "The role of people in departments of health and the role of people in health care and medicine is to promote health and make sure the public is safe. There’s such a rich history of legal precedent, such a rich history of public health precedent, saying that society benefits by having individuals vaccinated."
A Shift in Louisiana
Earlier this month, Dr. Ralph Abraham, Louisiana’s first-ever surgeon general, sent a memo to staff at the Louisiana Department of Health saying they should no longer recommend that Louisianans get "any and all vaccines." The memo also said the agency will "no longer promote mass vaccination." Instead, Abraham said, health workers should encourage residents to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccines with their doctors.
Staying the Course in Mississippi
But in neighboring Mississippi, which is also Republican-dominated, GOP leaders are staying the course – at least so far. More than two dozen anti-vaccine bills have died in the Mississippi legislature in the past two years, including this year’s proposed ban on mRNA vaccines.
"The science is clear and in Mississippi we stand on the science," said Dr. Daniel Edney, Mississippi’s state health officer. "Our law is still in effect, and if you don’t have a medical or religious exemption, then you must be fully vaccinated to attend school or go to day care in Mississippi."
Conclusion
The decline in vaccination rates is a growing concern, with public health experts warning that it could lead to the resurgence of infectious diseases. As states relax rules and scale back vaccine promotion efforts, it is crucial for healthcare professionals and policymakers to stay committed to promoting vaccination as a key strategy for protecting public health.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of vaccination rates in the US?
A: Vaccination rates among children born in 2020 and 2021 declined by between 1.3 and 7.8 percentage points for recommended shots, compared with children born in 2018 and 2019.
Q: What is the impact of vaccine mandates on public health?
A: Vaccine mandates have been shown to be an effective way to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and protect public health.
Q: What is the role of public health experts in promoting vaccination?
A: Public health experts play a crucial role in promoting vaccination as a key strategy for protecting public health, and in providing accurate information to the public about the risks and benefits of vaccines.
