Children in the US born in 2020 and 2021 had lower coverage for nearly all vaccines than those born in 2018 and 2019. Financial barriers, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine-related misinformation all need to be overcome to increase coverage, protect from vaccine-preventable diseases
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7338a3.htm
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Summary
What is already known about this topic?
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices currently recommends routine vaccination against 15 potentially serious illnesses for children by age 24 months.
What is added by this report?
Estimated coverage with most childhood vaccines was lower among children born during 2020–2021 (during or after the height of the health care disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic) compared with those born during 2018–2019. Disparities by race and ethnicity, health insurance status, poverty status, and urbanicity persist. Coverage also varied widely by jurisdiction, especially for influenza vaccine.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Financial barriers, access issues, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine-related misinformation all need to be overcome to increase coverage, ensure full recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, eliminate disparities, and protect all children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccines save lives of those worth saving. Can’t file vaccine denialists in that category. Harsh, I know. But sadly, the children of these muggins suffer.