AZ Health Officials Urgent Warning: ‘Get Your Children Vaccinated NOW’

The Impact of the Pandemic on Vaccination Rates in Arizona

The pandemic changed a lot of things in Arizona. The lockdowns disrupted routine doctor visits and delayed childhood vaccinations.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Pediatrics), found that the delay put children at risk.

READ: CDC Warns AZ Residents of Highly Infectious Disease Outbreak

Even after restrictions eased, the effort to get vaccination schedules caught up fell short. According to the University of Arizona, these falling vaccination rates "could lead to serious health issues in the future."

The push to get people vaccinated against COVID-19 created a whole new level of vaccination scrutiny, and the suspicion may have had a ripple effect even on time-tested and trusted vaccinations.

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Preventable Diseases are on the Rise in Arizona

Dangerous diseases that children have routinely been vaccinated against, like measles and mumps, are now being questioned by parents and other adults, but on a micro and macro scale throughout our state.

In some cases, nervous parents are opting out of traditional vaccinations altogether, and this has health officials worried. It's also creating a risky and dangerous situation for Arizona's children.

Arizona's Children Are at Risk

1. Infections: Delayed vaccinations increase the risk of preventable diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella.
2. Community Transmission: Vaccination reduces infection transmission within communities, safeguarding vulnerable populations.

The Impact of Arizona’s Drop in Immunizations

The ADHS reports that almost 601% of Arizona schools saw a decrease in children vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella between 2018 and 2021.

In Maricopa County, kindergarteners dropped below the 95% vaccination rate needed for herd immunity - the sweet spot where enough people are vaccinated against a pathogen in order to protect against the spread of infection.

READ: Masks are Back in Arizona. What Now?

What This Means for Arizona's Children

The drop in basic immunizations can increase kids' health risks. This trend can also cause trouble for adults with compromised immune systems, leaving the entire population susceptible to preventable diseases.

Officials are already seeing outbreaks of measles across Arizona and other states.

READ MORE: Dangerous Rise in Confirmed Measles Cases in Arizona

Arizona is facing a critical challenge for kids in our state. Children who've fallen behind in their vaccinations should get caught up as soon as possible to prevent tragedies related to preventable childhood diseases.

Sources: JAMA | Arizona Department of Health Services | AZCIR.org | CDC