CDC warns of potential measles outbreaks as kids fail to get routine vaccines during pandemic
The United States could begin seeing outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases because children are failing to get necessary immunizations during the covid-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
A newly released study found vaccinations for children and vaccine orders dropped precipitously in late March, about a week after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency due to the novel coronavirus. As social distancing restrictions are relaxed, diseases beyond covid-19 could spread, it warns.
"The identified declines in routine pediatric vaccine ordering and doses administered might indicate that U.S. children and their communities face increased risks for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases," the authors wrote. "Assessment of state and local vaccination coverage is needed to quantify the impact among U.S. children of all ages and prioritize areas for intervention."
The study is based on data from the federally funded Vaccines for Children Program, which covers about 50 percent of Americans under 18, and broader tracking data collected by the CDC.
Read more: https://www.mrt.com/news/article/CDC-warns-of-potential-measles-outbreaks-as-kids-15257404.php
(Midland Reporter-Telegram)
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