According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a concerning trend has emerged: fewer children born during the initial years of the COVID-19 pandemic received important routine vaccinations compared to their peers born just before the pandemic began.

In a detailed study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers led by Dr. Holly Hill from the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases revealed that vaccination coverage for children born in 2020 and 2021 plummeted between 1.3 to 7.8 percentage points across various vaccines when compared with children born in 2018 and 2019.

Specific Declines in Vaccination Coverage

The research findings are alarming and highlight specific declines in vaccination coverage for children by the age of 24 months: - **Influenza vaccine (two or more doses):** -7.8 percentage points - **Combined seven-vaccine series:** -3.2 percentage points - **Rotavirus vaccine:** -2.0 percentage points - **DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, & Pertussis) vaccine:** -1.8 percentage points for three doses; -2.5 for four doses - **Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) conjugate vaccine:** -2.2 percentage points for the primary series; -3.2 percentage points for the complete series - **Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine:** -1.8 percentage points for three doses; -2.7 for four doses - **Hepatitis A vaccine (one or more doses):** -1.6 percentage points - **MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine:** -1.7 percentage points - **Polio vaccine:** -1.5 percentage points - **Varicella vaccine:** -1.3 percentage points - **Hepatitis B vaccine (three or more doses):** -1.5 percentage points

Despite these alarming downturns, it's noteworthy that vaccination rates for critical vaccines like poliovirus, MMR, DTaP, Hib, and hepatitis B remained above 90% amongst children born during the pandemic. However, the influenza vaccine saw a stark drop, with only 56% of children receiving two or more doses in 2020-2021, compared to 63% in 2018-2019.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine vaccinations against 15 potentially serious illnesses by age 24 months. Dr. Hill and her team warned that these recent declines in vaccination coverage pose significant risks, potentially leading to a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, varicella, and rotavirus. In a recent development, 264 measles cases were reported in the U.S. in 2024 alone, with a staggering 88% of those affected being unvaccinated or having unclear vaccination status. Additionally, the U.S. has observed a significant increase in whooping cough (pertussis) cases this year compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Disparities Based on Race and Ethnicity

The study also uncovered troubling disparities in vaccine coverage based on race and ethnicity. Data indicated that Black, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian or Alaska Native children experienced lower vaccine coverage levels compared to their white counterparts across several vaccine measures. For example, during the 2020-2021 period, only 43% of Black children received two or more doses of the influenza vaccine, compared to 53% of Hispanic children and 60% of white children. Asian children, on the other hand, had the highest influenza vaccination rates at approximately 71%.

Health insurance status appeared to significantly affect vaccination rates. The study showed that children who were uninsured or reliant on Medicaid or other non-private insurance exhibited lower vaccination coverage compared to those with private insurance. Furthermore, children living at or below the poverty line also demonstrated significantly lower vaccination rates, with differences ranging from 2.7 percentage points lower for the MMR vaccine to an alarming 20 points lower for two or more doses of the influenza vaccine.

Widespread Impact of the Pandemic