New data from the CDC reveals a slight decline in kindergarten vaccination rates across the U.S. for the 2024-2025 school year, with rates ranging from 92.1% to 92.5% depending on the vaccine. Colorado mirrors this trend, with MMR vaccination rates for kindergartners at 88%, a decrease from 88.3% the previous year, and significantly lower than the 91% rate from five years prior. Public health officials express concern, emphasizing the impact of declining rates on herd immunity and the increased risk of outbreaks, while pediatricians encourage open communication and trust between doctors and parents.
Read More
Alberta’s measles outbreak has surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases, with experts deeming containment impossible due to high transmission rates. The surge, particularly impacting the south, central, and northern zones with low vaccination rates, has resulted in over 85 hospitalizations and one current ICU admission. Infectious disease specialists warn of potential future deaths, given measles’ serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and long-term neurological effects. Urgent calls for vaccination are being made to mitigate the ongoing crisis and prevent further spread.
Read More
Measles cases in the U.S. are rising due to declining vaccination rates, with 14 outbreaks reported in 2025—a significant increase from the previous year. Researchers are now utilizing wastewater surveillance to detect the measles virus nationwide, offering an earlier warning system than traditional methods. This approach, which has already detected measles in three locations, identifies the virus in sewage before symptoms appear in individuals, allowing for faster public health responses. Ultimately, this early detection can help target vaccination efforts and better manage outbreaks.
Read More
Dr. Gilbert Handal’s experience in a Chilean measles ward in 1964, before the vaccine’s availability, involved witnessing devastating mortality among infants and toddlers, leaving a lasting impact. This experience informs his current alarm regarding low vaccination rates in West Texas, where a significant measles outbreak has occurred. He emphasizes the direct link between low immunization rates and measles outbreaks, highlighting the preventable nature of the disease. Handal’s firsthand account serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of vaccine hesitancy, urging widespread immunization to prevent a return to the tragic realities of the pre-vaccine era.
Read More
The U.S. has surpassed 1,000 measles cases, with Texas accounting for the majority, despite a recent decline in new cases. Multiple states are experiencing outbreaks linked to low vaccination rates, including some with fatalities among unvaccinated children and adults. Outbreaks are also occurring in Canada and Mexico, all sharing the same measles strain. Health experts warn that the current spread could continue for a year due to the highly contagious nature of the virus and pockets of low vaccination coverage.
Read More
Measles cases in the U.S. have reached a record high, exceeding the 2019 peak and marking the worst outbreak since the 1990s. The current surge, primarily driven by a large outbreak spanning Texas and neighboring states, surpasses the size of any single outbreak since measles elimination was declared in 2000. At least 935 cases have been reported nationally, with a significant portion linked to the Texas outbreak, and the true number is likely higher due to underreporting. While the rate of new cases in Texas appears to be slowing, officials warn it’s too early to declare the outbreak over.
Read More
This flu season has witnessed a tragically high number of pediatric deaths, surpassing all years since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic with 216 fatalities reported thus far. This alarming figure is likely an undercount, with the final tally expected to rise further. A significant contributing factor is the decreased flu vaccination rate among children, falling from 64% five years ago to 49% this season. While the season has been severe overall, impacting millions with illness and thousands with death, indicators suggest a decline in flu activity since February.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker