27 Counties In California Have Dangerously Low Kindergarten Measles Vaccination Rates

Measles Cases Have Increased -- And California's Rising Anti-Vax Sentiment Is At The Epicenter California is at the center of a renewed vaccination debate after at least 51 cases of measles in 7 states were linked to an initial exposure at Disneyland in southern California. U.S. Measles Cases Increased Dramatically In 2014 The disease was officially eradicated from the U.S. in 2000, according to the CDC, but recent years have seen its resurgence. U.S. measles cases* Measles cases in the continental U.S., 2009–2015, as of Feb. 2** 700 150 600 644 cases को 50 500 400 102 cases, as of Jan. 30 300 200 100 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 *Provisional data from 27 states reported to CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) **Data comes from media reports, governments, and the global health community, compiled by the Global Health Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. 2015 Ohio outbreak is a continuation of 2014 Ohio outbreak. High Exemption Rates Means Measles Can California Measles Vaccination Rates Have Shifted Spread Easily Measles vaccination coverage for kindergartners has dropped to dangerous levels in some counties, while personal belief exemptions have steadily climbed. Herd immunity for measles means a vaccination rate between 92 and 94 percent, but for the 2014-2015 school year, 27 counties had kindergarten vaccination rates below that level (outlined in black). Percent of kindergartners who got +2 MMR vaccinations 95.1-100% 90.1-95% 85.1-90% 80.1-85% 75.1-80% <75% Percent of kindergartners with personal belief exemptions, 2014-2015 school year 2002-2003 2005-2006 2008-2009 2011-2012 2014-2015 LESS MORE Statewide percent of kindergartners with personal belief exemptions, fall 2002-2014* Herd immunity protects community members who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants or people with compromised immune systems. Here's how it works: Unvaccinated but healthy person • Vaccinated and healthy person • Sick person 3% Disease spreads rapidly through an unimmunized community. 2.39% 2.54% 1.9% 2% 1.33% 1.11% 2% But when most people are vaccinated, spread is constrained and unvaccinated members have some protection. 0% 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 Note: Alpine county did not have any schools reporting vaccination data for the 2014-2015 school year. Individual antigen status is unavailable for students with Personal Beliefs Exemptions. There- fore, individual antigen immunization coverage may be underestimated; anecdotal evidence suggests a small percentage of students may have some but not all required immunizations. Sources: California Department of Public Health, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Council on Foreign Relations, CDC THE HUFFINGTON POST