MMIR vaccine rates for children continue to drop, measles cases climb - 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS
Measles vaccination rates among Minnesota kindergarteners have declined to 85.75%, contributing to a rise in measles cases. Health experts attribute this trend to eroding public trust in vaccines, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why it matters
Declining immunization rates pose a significant public health risk as preventable diseases like measles return to school-aged populations.
As the U.S. grapples with record-high cases of measles, school is right around the corner, and there are fewer and fewer kids vaccinated against the disease.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) backs that up — once as high as 96.3%, the percentage of Minnesota kindergarteners with the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, was 86.5% for the 2024-25 school year.
State numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health reflect that as well, with a continued drop for this past school year (2025 – 26): 85.75%.
The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) says the drop in vaccination rates and the increase in measles cases is a direct correlation.
“It’s concerning and frustrating,” MAFP president-elect Dr. Shannon Neale said about the ongoing measles outbreak.
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