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Public Health Officials: Routine Childhood Immunizations Crucial for Regional Community Health and State/School Requirements
Experts stress importance of vaccines as Ohio and Kentucky deal with measles outbreaks.
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GREATER CINCINNATI –AUGUST 11, 2026- As students throughout Greater Cincinnati head back to school this month, three local health departments are reminding families about the importance of routine childhood immunizations, especially for measles.

Measles cases have been increasing in both Ohio and Kentucky in recent years, with both states already experiencing outbreaks in 2026, leaders at Hamilton County Public Health, Cincinnati Health Department and Northern Kentucky Health Department say.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that formerly was eliminated in the United States due to widespread use of highly effective MMR vaccines. However, national vaccination rates have steadily declined since 2020, leading to 2,318 confirmed measles infections in the United States through July 24— the highest annual total in 35 years. Measles can cause significant respiratory and neurological complications or even death, particularly for children.

The three local health departments say that ensuring that your children are fully vaccinated as the new academic year kicks off can prevent measles and other deadly or severe diseases throughout the region. Ohio’s and Kentucky’s immunization requirements for school-age children may vary based on location, age, number of doses, and timing, so families should confirm immunization schedules with their trusted pediatrician, school nurse or health department.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that routine childhood immunizations are vital to both individual and public health, as vaccination programs can prevent or reduce severe outbreaks of preventable diseases.

WHAT LOCAL EXPERTS SAY
“Vaccines save lives. Because they’ve worked so well for so long, it’s easy to forget how much suffering diseases like measles once caused. Keeping your child’s vaccinations up to date is one of the best ways to protect their health and help keep the people around them healthy, too.” — Dr. Grant Mussman, health commissioner, Cincinnati Health Department.

“Every parent wants what’s best for their child, and every pediatrician wants the same for their young patients. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children are much more susceptible to severe illness, so we want to work together to keep our region’s kids safe and healthy.”— Dr. Stephen Feagins, medical director, Hamilton County Public Health.

“Our children deserve to play, learn, and grow without being sidelined by preventable illnesses like measles. Getting your children up to date on their routine vaccines is the single best way to build a strong shield around their health. Vaccines do far more than just prevent a sick day—they give our kids the strong defense they need so they can stay in the classroom, on the playground, and doing what they love.” — Dr. Jennifer Mooney, director of health, Northern Kentucky Health Department.

DEBUNKING VACCINATION MYTHS
MYTH: Natural immunity is safer than vaccinating children.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          FACT: Natural infection can provide some immunity, but significant risks for unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children include hospitalization, permanent disability, new health issues and even death. Between 1994 and 2023, routine childhood immunizations prevented more than 1,100,000 deaths, 32 million hospitalizations and 508 million cases of illness for kids in the United States.

MYTH: Vaccines are full of unknown ingredients and aren’t safe.                                                                                                                                                                                                           
FACT: Vaccines are very safe and effective, going through years of rigorous scientific testing before receiving any type of approval for use. They are continuously monitored for safety on a long-term basis. For example, the measles vaccine has been studied for more than 70 years.
 
MYTH: Vitamin A can provide better immunity than the measles vaccine.
FACT: Vitamin A is not an antiviral and does not prevent measles from infecting someone or spreading from person to person; it generally is only used in countries where vitamin A deficiency occurs. Only the MMR vaccine safely and effectively offers long-term immunity and prevents measles infections. The two-dose vaccine series is 97% effective at preventing measles, while one dose is 93% effective. Pediatricians recommend two doses for full lifelong immunity.
 
MYTH: Children’s bodies can’t handle multiple vaccines.
FACT: Children and babies generally have strong immune systems, encountering antigens every day. Routine immunizations may cause brief discomfort at the injection site or other minor side effects, but pediatricians agree that routine immunizations are not dangerous for most children. Kids who have underlying health issues or are allergic to vaccine ingredients may have more severe side effects, but those side effects are rare.
 
MYTH: Vaccines cause autism.
FACT: Decades of extensive scientific research shows that vaccines do not cause autism. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that begins before birth and is unrelated to routine childhood immunizations.
 

HELPFUL RESOURCES
• Ohio K-12 immunization requirements: odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/Immunization/welcome
• Kentucky K-12 immunization requirements: chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/imm/KYImmRequirements_SchoolAge.pdf
• American Academy of Pediatrics immunization recommendations: aap.org/en/patient-care/immunizations

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