Measles cases rising in Georgia as vaccination rates drop
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Cases of measles are surging in Georgia, leaving local communities vulnerable to a virus that was uncommon until recent years and which public health officials say is preventable.
Why it matters: Most North Georgia counties don't meet the herd immunity threshold for measles, with vaccination rates for kindergarteners well below the 95% mark, per new data collected and analyzed by the Washington Post.
Catch up quick: On Tuesday, the Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed that a baby along the Georgia coast became the state's first measles case in 2026.
- The baby is too young to receive the measles vaccine and acquired the virus while traveling internationally, according to the department.
- Health officials are contacting people who were possibly exposed to the virus.
By the numbers: Georgia recorded 10 cases in 2025 and six in 2024, according to state health department data.
- Except for a surge in cases in 2019, most years have been measles free.
Stunning stat: Georgia's herd immunity is 89%, down from 94% before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the data.
- That threshold is widely considered necessary to contain the virus' spread.
Caveat: State health officials provided the Post county-level data for overall vaccination rates, not just the MMR vaccine.
- "In at least four counties, the latest rates were under 50 percent, possibly attributable to reporting problems," the outlet said.
The big picture: The battle against infectious diseases like the flu and measles has taken a hit with sinking vaccination rates for children in many parts of the U.S.
- The decline has set the U.S. up to lose its coveted elimination status for the first time in decades.
What's next: Federal health policy is shifting.
- On Jan. 5, the Trump administration overhauled the childhood vaccination schedule by cutting recommended shots to 11, though the recommended list still includes a measles shot for kids.
- DPH has not changed its immunization schedule based on the new guidelines. A spokesperson did not respond to Axios' request for a comment.
The bottom line: State health officials are stressing the efficacy of the MMR virus to prevent acquiring measles.
- "More than 95% of the people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three viruses. A second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%," the department said.
Go deeper: Where vaccination rates declined the most, by county