Hesitancy over the COVID-19 vaccine is leading some parents to skip important vaccinations for their children.
Young children of parents who declined the COVID vaccine are about 25 percent less likely to get the standard measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, researchers reported in a new study published recently in the American Journal of Public Health.
Public health officials are worried that a decline in vaccine coverage will cause an increase in highly contagious childhood diseases like measles.
Last year, 16 measles outbreaks were reported, compared with four outbreaks reported in 2023, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“In the United States, we are experiencing a concerning resurgence of childhood vaccine-preventable diseases,” researcher Dr. Ben Rader, a computational epidemiologist with Boston Children’s Hospital, said in a news release.
“Our research suggests that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has fueled increasing MMR vaccine hesitancy, leaving children more vulnerable to highly contagious and life-threatening illnesses like measles,” he added.
For the study, researchers analyzed responses from nearly 20,000 parents of children younger than 5 to a digital health survey conducted from July 2023 to April 2024.
Children of parents who got at least one COVID jab had higher MMR vaccination rates — nearly 81 percent, compared to just under 61 percent for children of unvaccinated parents, researchers found.
Politics also played a role in childhood vaccinations. Republican parents were 27 percent less likely to have their kids get the MMR vaccine than Democratic parents.
“Our research highlights the link between parental characteristics and MMR vaccine uptake, showing how pandemic-related hesitancy may affect other routine vaccines,” lead researcher Eric Zhou, a pediatrics instructor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, said in a news release.
Overall, MMR vaccination rates were higher in the Midwest and Northeast than in the South or West.
Parents on Medicare or Medicaid were about 15 percent less likely to have their kids get the MMR jab than parents with private insurance, results show.
“Addressing these disparities, through equitable access and fostering trust and transparency in vaccine safety, is key to protecting children from preventable diseases like measles,” Zhou concluded.
Black vaccine hesitancy
Vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans is a complex issue with historical roots in medical mistreatment and systemic racism. Unfortunately, this hesitancy has contributed to a concerning rise in preventable diseases within the Black community like COVID-19 and measles.
This mistrust manifests in lower vaccination rates across age groups. Black children are less likely to receive routine childhood immunizations, while Black adults have some of the lowest flu and pneumonia vaccination rates compared to other racial groups. COVID-19 further highlighted this disparity, with Black Americans initially lagging in vaccination uptake.
The rise in preventable diseases
The consequences of lower vaccination rates are becoming increasingly evident. Measles, a disease once nearly eradicated, is reemerging in communities with low vaccination coverage, disproportionately affecting Black children. Similarly, pertussis and other vaccine-preventable illnesses are also on the rise.
Solving the Medicare/Medicaid vaccination problem
Increasing childhood vaccination rates among families on public insurance requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses access barriers, builds trust, and provides education and support. Here are some key strategies:
1. Reduce Financial Barriers:
- Free Vaccines: Ensure all recommended vaccines are fully covered by public insurance programs with no out-of-pocket costs for families.
- Coverage for Administration Fees: Advocate for public insurance to cover vaccine administration fees, which can be a barrier for some families.
- Transportation Assistance: Provide transportation vouchers or subsidies to help families get to vaccination appointments.
2. Improve Access and Convenience:
- Expanded Clinic Hours: Offer evening and weekend clinic hours to accommodate working parents’ schedules.
- School-Based Vaccination Programs: Bring vaccination clinics directly to schools to increase accessibility.
- Mobile Vaccination Clinics: Utilize mobile clinics to reach communities with limited access to healthcare facilities.
- Telehealth Services: Offer telehealth appointments for pre-vaccine consultations and to address parental concerns.
3. Build Trust and Address Hesitancy:
- Culturally Competent Care: Train healthcare providers to deliver culturally sensitive care and address vaccine hesitancy in a respectful and understanding manner.
- Community Health Workers: Employ community health workers to build trust and provide education and outreach within their communities.
- Trusted Messengers: Engage trusted community leaders and influencers to promote vaccination and address misinformation.
4. Enhance Communication and Education:
- Clear and Accessible Information: Provide clear and concise vaccine information in multiple languages and formats.
- Personalized Communication: Utilize text messages, phone calls, and patient portals to send personalized vaccination reminders and address individual concerns.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Develop targeted public awareness campaigns to address common misconceptions and promote the benefits of vaccination.
5. Strengthen Provider Partnerships:
- Provider Education: Provide ongoing education and training to healthcare providers on the latest vaccine recommendations and effective communication strategies.
- Data Sharing: Improve data sharing between public health agencies and healthcare providers to track vaccination rates and identify areas for improvement.
- Incentive Programs: Consider implementing incentive programs to encourage providers to actively promote and provide vaccinations.
By implementing these strategies, we can work towards a future where all children, regardless of their family’s income or insurance status, have access to the life-saving benefits of vaccines.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on measles outbreaks.
SOURCE: American Journal of Public Health, news release, Jan. 16, 2025