Elementary Schools Conquered Measles—But Victory Was Short-Lived

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscores that the MMR vaccine remains the most robust guard against the measles. According to the CDC, two doses of the MMR vaccine offer 97% protection, while one dose provides 93% protection.

Initial symptoms of measles include fever, dry cough, and puffy eyes, followed by a red, blotchy rash. While there’s no cure for measles, its symptoms can be managed. Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure.

Despite measles typically resolving in about two weeks, 20% of those infected require hospitalization. Young children, particularly those aged five and under, are especially vulnerable.

Arizona’s inoculation rates have dropped sharply over the years. Only a third of elementary schools report herd immunity, defined as 95% or higher vaccination rates among kindergarteners. A decade ago, the figure was two-thirds of schools.

Maricopa mirrors the statewide decline in vaccination rates. At Butterfield Elementary School, 98% of kindergarteners were vaccinated in 2020. By 2023, this figure had slipped to 90%, below the herd immunity threshold, per the Arizona Department of Health Services.

One contributing factor is Arizona’s allowance for vaccine exemptions based on personal beliefs. The state struggles to enforce laws requiring exemption forms, contributing to lower compliance.

The Maricopa Unified School District (MUSD) denies that personal belief exemptions are the cause of declining vaccination rates at Butterfield Elementary. “We have zero reports of measles in the district,” stated MUSD spokesperson Montana Lomayesva-Roberts. She added that Butterfield Kindergarten remains fully compliant, even among students following the exemption process.

A University of Minnesota study published late last year notes a surge in vaccine paranoia starting with the pandemic, which may explain falling immunization rates.

Lomayesva-Roberts suggests misinformation is a key factor, stating, “Immunizations are down across the nation, and some of that can be attributed to misinformation about them.”

Other schools within the Maricopa district have also seen a decline. Pima Butte Elementary achieved a 100% MMR vaccination rate in 2019, but this fell to 95% by 2021 and further to 90% by 2023. Maricopa Elementary lost its herd immunity status in 2023, and Saddleback Elementary saw its rates dip below 90% in 2022. Santa Rosa Elementary School experienced a similar decline post-2020.

MUSD continues to work on educating parents about the importance of immunizations, offering resources and locations where vaccines can be obtained.

For further information, you can check the Arizona Department of Health Services’ resources.