Preventable Infectious Diseases Will Resurface In All Age Groups If Immunizations Continue To Fall, Experts Say

The New York Times (1/13, Mandavilli) reports, “The pandemic interrupted childhood immunizations across the country, and rates have not yet recovered.” Consequently, “hundreds of thousands of children are increasingly vulnerable to diseases once largely relegated to history books.” The majority “of them predominantly affect young children, like measles, mumps and rubella.” However, “if immunizations continue to fall over the next few years – because of rising distrust, or more restrictive federal policies – preventable infectious diseases will resurface in all age groups, experts say.” It is “not just the unvaccinated who will have to worry.” According to the Times, “even adults who were vaccinated decades ago may find themselves vulnerable to what are now considered childhood diseases.”