What declining vaccination rates mean for your family – and what you can do

As childhood vaccination rates in Allegheny County decline, The Conversation asked experts why parents are opting out and how to protect vaccination policy.

By: Kar-Hai Chu, University of Pittsburgh and Maggie Slavin, University of Pittsburgh, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 10, 2026

Words: 1,081

Last Updated: 2 hours, 38 minutes ago

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By Kar-Hai Chu, University of Pittsburgh and Maggie Slavin, University of Pittsburgh

As the risk of measles remains an ongoing concern, herd immunity in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is already slipping. According to data obtained via The Washington Post in January 2026, 1 in 3 Allegheny County kindergartners were in a classroom too far below adequate vaccination coverage to stop a measles outbreak during the 2023-24 school year.

A professor from the University of Pittsburgh’s …

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