The onset of the pandemic more than two years ago drastically disrupted daily life and routines, including essential healthcare practices for children. While certain changes, like reduced office commutes, have been embraced by many feeling swamped, other critical aspects—such as annual doctor visits and the accompanying vaccinations—have seen a decline, according to public health authorities. A coalition of pediatricians, school nurses, immunization advocates, and state officials from ten states shared with Politico their concerns regarding the significant drop in routine vaccinations for preventable diseases like measles, chickenpox, and meningitis among children.
Experts are particularly alarmed that vaccine hesitancy regarding the COVID-19 vaccine may be spilling over into hesitancy for other critical immunizations. Hugo Martinez, a pediatrician and president of the Florida Pediatric Association, emphasized the need to keep vaccines out of the political discourse, citing the introduction of several state-level bills aimed at limiting vaccination requirements in schools. While these bills did not progress, their introduction reflects a troubling rise in vaccine skepticism.
Initially, during the pandemic, the CDC reported a 15% decrease in orders for the Vaccines for Children program, which provides vaccinations to nearly half of U.S. children. In 2021, orders remained 7% lower than pre-pandemic levels, with states resisting mask and vaccine mandates experiencing an even sharper decline. For instance, Florida’s rate of routine immunizations for 2-year-olds plummeted from 92.1% in 2019 to 79.3% in 2021, while Tennessee saw a nearly 14% drop in doses given to children under 2. Additionally, in Idaho, first doses of the MMR vaccine for children by age 2 dropped from 21,000 to 17,000 post-pandemic.
Although there have been no reported outbreaks of measles or other preventable illnesses in theme parks, experts warn that it may only be a matter of time given the declining trend in routine vaccinations. Currently, only 45% of eligible children in the U.S. have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, representing the lowest vaccination rate among all age groups.
For more information, you can also check out our other blog post here, which dives deeper into related topics. If you are looking for financial assistance, visit this excellent resource for help. For a comprehensive overview of various treatment options, this is an excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
Search Queries:
- Home insemination kit options
- Self insemination techniques
- Effective home insemination methods
- Vaccination schedules for children
- Preventable diseases in children
In summary, the pandemic has led to a significant decline in routine vaccinations for children, raising concerns about a potential resurgence of preventable diseases. Experts emphasize the importance of maintaining vaccination schedules to protect public health, especially in light of rising vaccine hesitancy and the impact of recent legislative trends.