Ga. vaccination rates fall below level needed to stop measles spread

ATLANTA, Ga. - New CDC data shows 86.8% of Georgia kindergartners were fully up to date on required vaccines when they entered school last year — below the threshold health experts say is needed to prevent measles from spreading.

Exemptions are also rising. According to the data, 4.8% of kindergartners had vaccine exemptions, and nearly all were religious rather than medical.

Dr. Cecil Bennett said some parents encounter misinformation and begin to rely on the concept of herd immunity to protect their children.

“It’s like treating children like cattle, like a herd,” Bennett said.

Bennett said measles is not always mild and can escalate quickly for some children.

“Some children may end up in the hospital,” he said.

At the confirmation hearing for President Trump’s CDC director nominee, Dr. Erica Schwartz, Democratic senators pressed her on vaccine-related content on the CDC website.

“If confirmed, will you commit to removing information on the CDC website suggesting a link between vaccines and autism?” Sen. Bernie Sanders asked.

“If confirmed, Senator, you have my commitment that I will look at that exact terms on the website,” Schwartz said.

Doctors are advising parents to contact their child’s doctor before the school year begins. The recommended steps: confirm vaccinations are current and ensure required school forms are on file.

Parents of children entering 7th or 11th grade are also urged to verify additional vaccine requirements specific to those grade levels before appointment slots fill up.