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| source : nfid.org |
You might not have had “measles resurgence” on your 2024–2025 bingo card, but here we are. And this isn’t just a blip, it’s a growing public health crisis.
A new study out of Johns Hopkins University just revealed a shocking map of measles vulnerability in the U.S., showing that 8 in 10 counties have seen MMR vaccination rates drop, and the implications are serious.
We’re not talking minor fluctuations. We're talking about the potential comeback of one of the most contagious and dangerous diseases we've ever faced.
MMR Vaccination Rates Are Dropping. Fast.
The data shows that:
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91% of U.S. children are currently vaccinated against measles
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That’s below the 95% needed for herd immunity
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Over 1,600 counties have seen a drop in vaccination since the pandemic
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Only four states, California, Connecticut, Maine, and New York, showed improvement
Before COVID hit, county-level MMR coverage averaged around 94%. Now it's closer to 91%. And yes, that 3% drop matters, because measles doesn’t need much room to spread.
Why Does This Matter So Much?
Because measles isn’t just a rash or a “kid’s disease.” It’s one of the most contagious viruses ever recorded.
If one person has measles and is in a room with others who aren’t immune?
- Up to 90% of them will get infected.
- That person could easily spread it to 18 other people.
- Compare that to early COVID strains, which spread to just 2–3 people on average.
And once infected:
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1 in 5 people will be hospitalized
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1 in 20 children will develop pneumonia
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Some develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain)
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And yes, some die
As of this writing, the U.S. has reported over 1,000 cases and at least three measles-related deaths—the first measles deaths in a decade.
Why Is Vaccination Slipping?
The reasons aren’t surprising, but they are frustrating:
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Vaccine misinformation
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Pandemic-era disruption in preventive care
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Hesitancy fueled by social media narratives
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Distrust in public health institutions
Experts say that most of the recent infections, and all three deaths, were in unvaccinated individuals, many of whom were children.
The MMR vaccine is 97% effective, and kids are supposed to get it in two doses:
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First dose at 12–15 months
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Second dose at 4–6 years
Infants aged 6–11 months should also get an early dose if traveling internationally.
Where Are Cases Spiking?
The study and CDC updates show a sharp rise across a wide swath of the country, including:
Arizona, California, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Washington, and more, spanning over 30 states.
Roughly 75% of cases are in kids under 19. And this year is already the worst year for measles in over three decades, second only to 2019.
Back in 2000, measles was officially declared eliminated in the U.S.
That win? It took decades of vaccination campaigns.
Today? That progress is at risk of unraveling.
How We Got Here: The Perfect Storm
Lauren Gardner, senior author of the Johns Hopkins study, summed it up best:
“This high-resolution dataset lets us understand how vulnerable we really are.”
Here’s what’s driving the surge:
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Falling trust in science and public health
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Misinformation about vaccine “toxicity” and “natural immunity”
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Delayed wellness visits for kids during the pandemic
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And a general sense of, “Measles? That’s not a thing anymore… right?”
Spoiler: It very much is.
What You Can Do (Because Yes, This Is Preventable)
If you’re a parent, teacher, caregiver, or just a human who interacts with others:
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Check your vaccine status. (Especially adults born between 1963–1967 who may have only gotten one dose.)
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Get your kids their MMR shots on schedule.
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Be cautious when traveling, especially abroad.
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Share facts, not fear, with your circles.
And remember: The MMR vaccine isn’t new. It’s been safely used for decades. It’s protected millions of people. And unlike some modern meds, it doesn’t come with ads listing 47 side effects.
Final Thought: Measles Doesn’t Care About Politics or Algorithms
What’s happening now is a cautionary tale, of what happens when science takes a back seat to noise.
Measles isn’t back because we lost the medical tools to stop it. It’s back because we started ignoring them.
The truth is: we can still stop this.
But only if we start acting like measles is the threat, not the vaccine that prevents it.