As children head back to school in Wilmington, health professionals warn that decreasing vaccination rates due to misinformation could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles, highlighting the importance of catching up on missed doses.
As the school year gets under way in Wilmington, North Carolina, doctors are urging families to use the back-to-school rush as a reminder to review children’s immunisation records and catch up on any missed doses. For parents such as Heather Faison, the aim is straightforward: keeping her child protected.
The warning comes as vaccine hesitancy remains part of a broader national debate, with clinicians saying misinformation has made some families more wary and, in some cases, has affected coverage. Dr Michelle Fiscus, a paediatrician and chief medical officer for the Association of Immunization Managers, said parents and even policymakers are being exposed to large amounts of unreliable information about vaccines.
The concern is not abstract. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the share of kindergarten pupils who were up to date on the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine fell from 95.2% in the 2019-20 school year to 92.5% last year, leaving an estimated 286,000 children without full protection against measles. Public health experts say even modest drops in coverage can create openings for outbreaks, especially when highly contagious diseases are introduced into communities with lower vaccination rates.
Fiscus pointed to measles as one of the illnesses parents should keep in mind, particularly as cases rise in some parts of the country and in neighbouring South Carolina. She said outbreaks can begin when an unvaccinated person picks up the virus while travelling and then brings it back to a school or community where fewer children are protected. She also said parents should not be concerned about children receiving several vaccines at one appointment, noting that combining them can make care simpler and reduce repeat trips to the doctor.
The CDC says childhood vaccines are thoroughly tested, are designed to help the immune system build defences against serious diseases such as measles and whooping cough, and do not overload a child’s immune system. It recommends keeping to the immunisation schedule to ensure the best protection.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
