Immunizations Sharp Decline in Immunization Rates Is Cause for Concern By Wendy Wisner Wendy Wisner LinkedIn Twitter Wendy Wisner is a lactation consultant and writer covering maternal/child health, parenting, general health and wellness, and mental health. She has worked with breastfeeding parents for over a decade, and is a mom to two boys. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 13, 2023 Fact checked by Sean Blackburn Fact checked by Sean Blackburn LinkedIn Sean Blackburn is a fact-checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. Learn about our editorial process Print Immunization rates are dropping: Here's what parents should know. LWA / Dann Tardif / Getty Images Key Takeaways A May 2020 CDC report showed a worrying drop in immunization rates for children.This drop is largely due to parental concerns about bringing their children to any healthcare facility during a pandemic.Doctors are urging parents to keep children on their regular vaccine schedule to prevent a possible outbreak of preventable diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella. When the COVID-19 pandemic began this past March, parents were understandably frightened. Suddenly, a highly dangerous virus full of unknowns was sweeping our world and our country. It’s a parent’s instinct to keep their children safe, and that’s exactly what parents did when the pandemic began—and it’s what they continue to do now. Understandably, parents have felt anxious about visiting doctor’s offices for well visits and immunizations. It makes sense: doctor’s offices are where sick people go, and we don’t want to potentially expose our children to COVID-19. At the same time, health check-ups and immunizations are a vital element in keeping our kids healthy—and should be considered essential. Sadly, doctors have seen a dramatic drop in immunization rates over the past few months as a result of COVID-19 fears. But it is still very important that you keep up with your child's vaccination schedule. Child Immunizations and Vaccinations Data About Childhood Immunization Rates Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic In May 2020, the CDC released a report about a worrisome drop in immunization rates they had observed over the months since the pandemic began. Data was compiled from the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) provider order data as well as the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) vaccine administration data. Here’s what the CDC found: From mid-March to mid-April, the VFC program decreased its order of childhood vaccines (non-influenza vaccines) by about 2.5 million. There were 250,000 fewer doses of measles vaccines ordered as well.VSD saw a dramatic decline in measles vaccination in mid-March, most notably among older kids.Although measles vaccines rates are picking up for kids over 2 years old, VSD is still seeing lower rates among kids over two. UPDATE: January 2023 The CDC says the number of vaccinated kindergarteners entering school continues to decline. During the 2021-22 school year, the number of covered kindergarteners declined to approximately 93% for state-required vaccinations. That's down 1% from the 2020-21 school year, and 2% from the year before. The percentages vary from state to state. Students vaccinated against MMR is 98% in New York but only 78% in Alaska. When it comes to the polio vaccine, almost 98% are vaccinated in Louisiana and Nebraska, but Alaska is at 77%.Officials attribute the decline to COVID-related disruptions in the vaccine schedule. The CDC is concerned declining vaccination numbers could eventually impact the protection of students from these diseases. How Have Doctors Reacted to These Statistics? “The fact it has dropped so significantly in such a short period of time across the U.S. is really concerning because of the potential for outbreaks,” Sean T. O'Leary, MD, member of the Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases, commented in an AAP memo. It’s not just vaccines that have doctors worried. “I’m also concerned that children who have missed vaccines have also missed other health care that occurs during those visits, including physical exams, developmental screenings and other important care that should not be delayed,” said Sara H. Goza, MD, the AAP president. 1 in 3 Pediatricians Would Dismiss a Family That Refuses Vaccinations What Is Causing Immunization Rates to Drop? What exactly is driving parents' fears about coming to the doctor for well visits and immunizations? “Because daycares, schools, workplaces, and stores have closed in the past couple of months, most parents have been nervous about taking their young babies and children anywhere, especially to the pediatrician's office,” Florencia Segura, MD, of Einstein Pediatrics in Virginia, explained in an interview. “Parents are anxious that their babies will be exposed to COVID-19 or another type of virus at an office where typically both sick and well children are evaluated.” Cory Fish, MD, chief medical officer at Brave Care in Portland, OR, agrees: It’s fear and anxiety that is stopping parents from bringing their kids into the doctor. “My own experience and experience talking to colleagues is that the overwhelming reason for this is that parents (understandably) are scared to take kids to the doctor,” Fish said in an interview. Fish wants parents to know that although their fears are understandable, pediatricians' offices are doing everything in their power to keep kids safe. “I totally understand,” says Fish. “People are worried. However, when it comes to pediatric offices in particular, I encourage parents to ask what steps are being taken.” Dr. Fish encourages worried parents to ask beforehand about what protocols their pediatrician’s office has taken to keep patients safe. Most offices are taking appropriate steps, such as mask wearing and social distancing in waiting rooms, which should put parental fears at ease. What Are the Dangers of Lower Immunization Rates? Although parent fears are understandable in these unprecedented times, it’s important to understand that there is actually a real danger in not visiting the pediatrician right now—especially when it comes to vaccination. Dr. Segura explains that in order for us to be protected from vaccine preventable illnesses, our babies and young children need to be vaccinated consistently and according to the current vaccine schedule. It all goes back to “herd immunity”–meaning that we rely on the overall immunity of our population to keep these viruses at bay. Florencia Segura, MD These falling vaccination rates will jeopardize the herd immunity that communities need for diseases like measles, whooping cough, meningitis, and bacterial sepsis. For measles, we need at least 93% to 95% of the population immunized to prevent a widespread outbreak, which is especially worrisome because many states are easing social distancing restrictions. — Florencia Segura, MD Measles outbreaks have happened periodically over the past few years, so that’s a concern for many pediatricians as immunization rates see this sharp decline. But it’s not just measles they are worried about. “The administration of routine vaccines, such as measles, mumps and rubella and whooping cough, amongst others, are incredibly important for the health of your child and the communities we live in,” explained Savita Ginde, MD, a family planning expert and chief healthcare officer at Stride Community Health Center, in an interview. “We’ve worked too hard to keep vaccine-preventable illnesses at bay to let this happen,” Dr. Ginde added. “I can’t stress enough how important it is to have your children vaccinated.” What Doctor’s Offices Are Doing to Keep Kids Safe Again, if you have any fears or concerns about visiting your pediatrician, call ahead and discuss exactly how the visit will work in our “new normal” of COVID-19. It’s likely that simply learning about your pediatrician’s safety protocols will put your mind at ease. Ginde shared some of the precautions her practice is taking during the pandemic, which are similar to protocols doctors all over the country are implementing: Only one adult is allowed to accompany a child (or children) per visit. Any person over the age of two must wear a face mask. No one who is sick is allowed into the office, especially anyone experiencing COVID-type symptoms. Anyone who enters the building must have their temperature taken and must answer a health questionnaire. The Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP) also has some safety suggestions for doctors’ offices that may put your mind at ease, including: Having sick patients enter the building at different times than well patientsSeparating patients spatially (social distancing) and/or keeping sick and well patients in separate locations in the office What This Means For You It’s easy to be swept into debates with other parents—and even our own well-meaning family members—about the best practice when it comes to something like immunizations. Everyone is going to have an opinion about whether now is a good time to go to a doctor’s office or if your child’s vaccinations are something you can afford to skip or delay.Now is a good time to listen to doctors and to science—and what they are telling us loud and clear is that despite all our understandable fears, skipping children’s vaccines right now is a dangerous proposition, both for children and communities. Learn More Reasons to Follow the CDC's Recommended Immunization Schedule (CDC) Vaccine Hesitant Parents (American Academy of Pediatrics) The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page. 3 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. CDC. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine pediatric vaccine ordering and administration — United States, 2020. Seither R, Calhoun K, Yusuf OB, et al. Vaccination Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten — United States, 2021–22 School Year. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:26–32. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7202a2. AAP. Guidance on providing pediatric well care during COVID-19. Additional Reading Guidance on Providing Pediatric Well-Care During COVID-19. American Academy of Pediatrics. Jenco M. AAP urges vaccination as rates drop due to COVID-19. AAP News. Santoli JM, Lindley MC, DeSilva MB, et al. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine pediatric vaccine ordering and administration. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69:591–593. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6919e2 By Wendy Wisner Wendy Wisner is a lactation consultant and writer covering maternal/child health, parenting, general health and wellness, and mental health. She has worked with breastfeeding parents for over a decade, and is a mom to two boys. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit