Vaccination Access: A Critical Issue for Americans

Americans’ access to vaccines, especially for children and seniors, is “critically important,” Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) emphasized.

During a panel event, “Boosting the Status Quo: Vaccinating America’s Most Vulnerable,” hosted by The Hill and sponsored by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Bucshon stated, “We need to get back to some kind of normalcy where we understand that vaccination has really changed the world.”

He further highlighted the significance of vaccination access, saying, “Access to vaccinations is really important for both children and older people.”

The U.S. is currently grappling with declining childhood vaccination rates amidst continued vaccine hesitancy following the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national vaccination rate for kindergarten students decreased from 95% to about 93% between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 school years.

Additionally, preschool exemptions increased to 3% last year, and vaccine exceptions increased in 41 states, exceeding 5% in 10.

The CDC notes that a vaccine exemption rate above 5% limits the level of vaccination coverage that can be achieved, “increasing the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Bucshon, a physician himself, expressed concern that vaccine hesitancy amid the pandemic may extend to childhood immunizations for diseases like measles and mumps.

He emphasized that statistically, getting vaccinated makes individuals healthier, despite some people experiencing adverse health effects after vaccination, which are very rare.

By promoting vaccination access and addressing vaccine hesitancy, the U.S. can work towards achieving a healthier future for its citizens.