Widespread Decline Seen in MMR Vaccination Rates After COVID-19

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- A widespread decrease in measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination rates was seen after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a research letter published online June 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Ensheng Dong, Ph.D., from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and colleagues generated a standardized dataset with annual county-level vaccination rates for children from 2017 to 2024 for all states in the United States for which this information was available. Spatiotemporal trends in vaccination coverage were examined. The final dataset included at least one year of vaccination data for 2,237 counties across 38 states.

The researchers found a nationwide decline in vaccination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, with considerable heterogeneity seen within and across states. The county-level mean vaccination rate decreased from 93.92 percent prepandemic to 91.26 percent postpandemic across 2,066 counties in 33 states with both prepandemic and postpandemic vaccination rates, representing a mean decline of 2.67 percent. During this period, 78 percent the 2,066 counties reported a decline in coverage. Only four states reported an increase in the median county-level vaccination rate.

"Our county-level dataset complements the state and national-level CDC data, confirming a widespread decline in MMR vaccination rates in the U.S. after the COVID-19 pandemic while revealing significant heterogeneity in vaccination patterns within and across states," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-06-06 12:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords