Last year’s percentage of vaccinated children was below herd immunity levels.
Original Air Date: August 15, 2025
Host: Sarasota schools are back in session this week. For many families, that brings the excitement of new teachers, classmates and activities. But this year it also brings into focus a critical threat to public health: plummeting kindergarten vaccination rates. Kara Newhouse with Suncoast Searchlight reports.
KN: At Sarasota County public schools, about 82% of kindergarteners were fully immunized against measles last academic year. That’s well below the level required for herd immunity. And it’s roughly the same rate as in Gaines County, Texas, the epicenter of a measles outbreak that has killed two children and infected hundreds this year…