The United States is facing a pivotal moment in efforts to keep one of the world’s most contagious diseases at bay. Measles cases have reached a 33-year high just halfway through 2025. This grim milestone has public health experts worried that unless vaccination rates rise, the virus could cause more regular outbreaks every year.
Having high immunity in communities should be considered a national asset, behavioral scientist Alison Buttenheim of the University of Pennsylvania said in a June 25 news briefing hosted by SciLine, a service for journalists and scientists sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Much like our national parks or weapon stores, “we have invested a lot in building a vaccination program and financing for it and these amazing vaccines scientifically to build this herd immunity,” she said. “And it is at risk.”