Vaccination Rates Drop in Florida, England

The vaccination rate for kindergartners in Florida has dropped to 90.6%, the lowest in over a decade, raising concerns about potential outbreaks of preventable diseases. Public health experts recommend a vaccination rate of at least 95% to ensure herd immunity. The decline is attributed to increased vaccine hesitancy, partly fueled by misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend is not isolated to Florida; similar declines are reported in England, where not a single vaccine met the 95% target for herd immunity. In England, only 91.9% of five-year-olds received one dose of the MMR vaccine, and just 83.9% received both doses. The UK Health Security Agency and NHS have called for parents to ensure their children are vaccinated to prevent a resurgence of diseases like measles and whooping cough.