Trust broken: How COVID-era lies are fueling a collapse in childhood vaccination
By Dr. Brian C. Joondeph | Commentary, American Thinker
Recent data reveal a startling decline in childhood vaccination rates, with kindergarten coverage now dropping to about 92 %, far below the 95 % threshold needed for herd immunity.
Exemptions have increased to 3.6% nationwide, and more than half the states experienced declines in coverage for MMR, DTaP, polio, and varicella for the 2024-25 school year. Meanwhile, measles cases have reached a 33-year high, along with a disturbing rise in whooping cough cases, more than doubling in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Why are parents becoming more skeptical of routine childhood vaccinations?
The core reason is trust, with trust eroding so deeply that it may become permanent.
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