Covid-19 meets polio, measles and whooping cough – our immunity is at risk

As we head into our ninth month of the pandemic, with infection rates surging in almost every state, all eyes are on a vaccine. It’s hard not to feel the full wave of emotions as one company announces progress, while another temporarily pauses a trial. But alas, we steady our breath and look forward to the day we have a Covid-19 vaccine based on sound, scientific evidence.

A safe and effective vaccine that the public trusts and is affordable, paired with a fair and transparent distribution process, will be key to overcoming the pandemic. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies will cover the cost of an approved vaccine with no cost-sharing to members, in accordance with federal laws and regulations. And free access to the vaccine should be made available to the uninsured. This will help communities that have been disproportionately hit by the virus. Those at highest risk from contracting the virus and dying from it should get the vaccine first, including health care and other frontline workers, the elderly, people of color and other vulnerable populations.

Unfortunately, as the nation begins to hear good news about a Covid-19 vaccine, we’re seeing a different, unsettling and disturbing vaccination trend across America: a 26% drop so far this year in childhood vaccinations for highly contagious and preventable illnesses, like polio, whooping cough and measles.

This decrease from 2019 is even more troubling when you remember that the vaccination rate for these diseases was already declining. Now with this steep drop, our community protection against these illnesses – which have previously been eradicated or kept largely at bay – is seriously threatened. If these trends continue through the year, 9 million children, from what we can see in Blue Cross and Blue Shield data alone, will have missed routine vaccinations in 2020. Our data, and alarm, coincide with recent warnings from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and UNICEF saying that urgent action is needed to avert major measles and polio epidemics.

This is happening right now, while the world is already in the midst of a historic global pandemic.

I’m truly concerned about this dramatic drop in vaccinations, and believe that to best combat it we need to see a robust communications campaign that educates the American people on the safety and efficacy of not just the Covid-19 vaccine, but of all vaccines. Vaccines are only approved and distributed to the public if they are scientifically proven to be safe and effective. That’s how they bring security to families and communities across the world and, most importantly, save lives through community protection.

It’s possible to reverse this trend of missed childhood vaccinations while preparing for widespread distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. But we have to work together now, in partnership and trust, with our nation’s public health officials and scientists.