The "medical freedom" movement that has gained traction in the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic could continue to push public health statistics in a troubling direction, experts told MedPage Today.

They were in part reacting to a recent New York Times story about how vaccine skeptics and others in the "medical freedom" movement are having more influence on American politics.

Indeed, in recent years, childhood vaccination rates have declined, while exemption rates have gone up, according to KFF. In 2024, the percentage of U.S. kindergartners with an exemption from at least one required vaccine increased to 3.3%, the highest percentage ever noted, according to the CDC. There also were more than 32,000 cases of pertussis, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and there were 16 measles outbreaks totaling 284 cases, up from 4 outbreaks with 59 cases the year prior, CDC said.

More>

###