Both in the United States and globally, childhood and adult vaccination rates have seen what community health experts are calling a “concerning decline” since the COVID-19 pandemic. Now is the time to ensure that you and your children are up to date on all recommended vaccines to best protect you and your family from preventable diseases.
“Vaccines are among the greatest medical breakthroughs in the history of medicine. Millions of lives have been saved and severe outcomes from various diseases have been prevented because of vaccines. At this moment, because of misinformation around vaccines, our vaccination numbers have declined, which has impacted certain populations who are more susceptible to preventable diseases. I urge you to check with your physician, schedule that preventive screening, and make sure you and your children are up to date on your vaccines,” says Jack Resneck Jr., M.D., former president of the American Medical Association.
According to Dr. Resneck, here are three steps to take to get back on track:
1. Schedule routine visits with your and your child’s physicians for important preventive care, including recommended health screenings and vaccines based on age and health status. Babies and young children are especially susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases, and right now, tens of thousands of children in the U.S. are not up to date on their vaccination against extremely contagious diseases, such as measles and whooping cough.
2. Make sure you and your family are up to date on the 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine. Health officials warn of a possible surge this fall and winter, and the updated JN.1-lineage vaccine offers stronger protection against severe illness. The CDC recommends vaccination for everyone ages 6 months and older, with special emphasis on adults 65+, those with chronic conditions, and the immunocompromised. Children remain eligible starting at 6 months, and pediatricians encourage early vaccination. You can safely receive your COVID-19 and flu shots at the same visit, maximizing protection during peak respiratory season. For more information, visit CDC COVID-19 Vaccines.
3. Even countries once declared polio-free or measles-free are not risk-free, particularly for the unvaccinated. In New York, poliovirus has been detected in wastewater, and a recent case of paralysis underscored the danger of under-vaccination. At the same time, measles outbreaks have surged across the U.S. and globally, fueled by declining vaccination rates. The CDC has reported thousands of cases this year, with clusters in under-immunized communities leading to hospitalizations and school disruptions. These developments highlight that vaccine-preventable diseases can return quickly when coverage drops. Staying up to date on routine immunizations is the best protection against both measles and polio and helps safeguard the wider community.
“Unfortunately, if we don’t get our vaccine coverage rates back to where they were before the pandemic began, we run the risk of seeing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases that we thought we’d long ago overcome,” says Dr. Resneck. “To protect yourself and your family from current and future outbreaks, get up to date on vaccinations now.”
(StatePoint)
PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Drazen Zigic / iStock via Getty Images Plus
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