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Childhood Vaccination Rates Plummet, Threatening Herd Immunity

1/26/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Dr. W. Jason Cornett, a pediatrician in Florida, warns of a troubling drop in childhood vaccination rates in Polk County, plummeting from 96.3% in 2021 to 93.2% in 2023. This decline threatens herd immunity and raises alarms about potential disease outbreaks, underscoring the critical need for vaccinations to protect children from severe illnesses.

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Story summary

Dr. W. Jason Cornett, a pediatrician in Florida, warns of a troubling drop in childhood vaccination rates in Polk County, plummeting from 96.3% in 2021 to 93.2% in 2023. This decline threatens herd immunity and raises alarms about potential disease outbreaks, underscoring the critical need for vaccinations to protect children from severe illnesses.