In the last five years, childhood vaccination rates in the United States have fallen below the threshold needed to protect against community outbreaks. The decline covers vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pneumococcal disease and HPV, decreasing from 95.2% of children vaccinated to 92.7%.
NPR’s Maria Godoy explained that falling below the 95% threshold will prove to be dangerous for communities across the United States. The effects of the falling rates have already been seen. In 2025, there were nearly 50 measles outbreaks (compared to 16 in 2024), leading to more than 1,800 measles cases. This dangerous decline in vaccination rates can largely be attributed to a lack of trust in the Center for Disease Control (CDC) beginning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through countless contrasting announcements on the reliability of the COVID-19 vaccine, Americans began to lose trust in not only the vaccine and its boosters, but many other vaccines recommended by the CDC.
A statement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reads, “[the] unscientific belief that vaccine-acquired immunity was superior to infection-acquired immunity, combined with inaccurate CDC claims that the COVID-19 vaccine would prevent infection and transmission eroded public trust in the COVID-19 vaccine.” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is another reason for declining trust. His accusations of vaccines causing autism have caused vaccination rates to decrease even more since his platform has expanded by becoming a key member of the Trump administration. While trust in vaccines has been damaged, Godoy, the CDC and HHS still attest that vaccines are crucial to keep our communities healthy. Well-established vaccines against brutal but preventable diseases must be taken so that the United States does everything possible to be as healthy as possible.
In some states, vaccination rates have decreased to well below 95%. In Idaho, the rate for vaccinations is under 80%, further exposing communities to the effects of measles, which include deafness, blindness and death.
The decisions made in the Department of Health and Human Services report are as follows:
The CDC recommends vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, pneumococcal disease, HPV and varicella for all children.
Immunizations recommended for high-risk groups include RSV, monoclonal antibodies, hep A, hep B, meningococcal B and meningococcal ACWY.
