What strategies could communities implement to address declining vaccination rates and rising measles cases?

Data: The Washington Post; Note: County level data unavailable for Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wyoming; Map: Jacque Schrag/Axios The battle against infectious diseases like the flu and measles has taken a hit with sinking vaccination rates for children in many parts of the U.S., per new data collected and analyzed by the Washington Post. The big picture: Vaccination rates for school-age children have plunged in hundreds of counties as chaos reigns over vaccination schedules, setting the stage for a potentially grim 2026. The new figures offer stark evidence of the extent of the backlash that began during the pandemic against public health mandates. Catch up quick: Plunging vaccination rates contributed to a spike in measles cases, and set the U.S. up to to lose its coveted <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/measles-outbreak-symptoms-elimination-