MMR vaccines drop as measles cases rise
Adherence to measles, mumps and rubella vaccination may have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a study published in JAMA Network Open, investigators assessed the rate of MMR vaccination among more than 320,000 children aged 2 years and younger as well as the factors contributing to delayed or missed vaccination.
The investigators described increasing levels of measles cases, reaching over 1,700 since mid-November 2025. They found that nearly 22% of the participants in the study didn’t receive their first MMR vaccines on time. While the rate of timely vaccination increased between 2018 and 2021, the rate then decreased by 3 percentage points in 2024. Those who received late vaccines at 2 and 4 months were less likely to receive their MMR vaccines.
The investigators emphasized that deviation from the MMR vaccine schedule may require early intervention to ensure that routine vaccination is completed.
Read more: JAMA Network Open
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