Alexandria’s childhood vaccination rates have fallen to concerning levels, dropping from 95% in 2019 to just 88% last school year for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, according to new data from an NBC News investigation published Monday.
The decline affects Alexandria City Public Schools’ 16,335 students across 18 schools. It puts the city below the critical 95% vaccination threshold needed for “herd immunity” — the level required to prevent measles outbreaks and stop disease spread within a community.
Alexandria’s decline makes it an outlier in Northern Virginia, where neighboring jurisdictions maintain significantly higher rates: Arlington County at 98%, Loudoun County at 97%, and both Fairfax and Prince William counties at 96%…