Measles Outbreak: Vaccination Rates Across the U.S. -- and Colorado's Terrible Performance

The growing outbreak of measles across the country is focusing new attention on the falling vaccination rates that appear to be exacerbating the problem. Anticipating the issue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a nationwide survey of vaccination rates among kindergartners in states that require either one or...

By Michael Roberts

February 4, 2015

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The growing outbreak of measles across the country is focusing new attention on the falling vaccination rates that appear to be exacerbating the problem. Anticipating the issue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a nationwide survey of vaccination rates among kindergartners in states that require either one or two doses of the varicella vaccine used to inoculate against the malady. Of the 42 in which figures were available (including the District of Columbia), some are doing well, while others -- among them, Colorado -- have a very distressing record. Count down the photo-illustrated list below, and to see the complete CDC report, click here.

See also: Blech! Five Worst Foodborne Illness Outbreaks in Recent U.S. History, published August 2010

Note: * = states that only require one, rather than two, doses of the varicella vaccine used to fight measles.

Number 1: Mississippi

99.7 percent

Number 2: North Carolina*

99.7 percent

Number 3: Hawaii*

99.2 percent

Number 4: Maryland*

99 percent

Number 5: New York*

98.2 percent

Number 6: Texas

97.2 percent

Number 7: New Jersey*

96.8 percent

Number 8: Connecticut

96.7 percent

Number 9: Illinois*

96.6 percent

Number 10: Delaware

96.4 percent

Number 11: Arizona*

96.4 percent

Number 12: Louisiana

96.1 percent

Number 13: Ohio

95.7 percent

Continue to keep counting down the measles vaccination rates across the U.S., including in Colorado. Number 14: South Dakota

95.3 percent

Number 15: California*

95.3 percent

Number 16 (tie): Nebraska

94.9 percent

Number 16 (tie): Tennessee

94.9 percent

Number 18 (tie): New Hampshire

94.7 percent

Number 18 (tie): Rhode Island

94.7 percent

Number 20: Missouri

94.6 percent

Number 21: South Carolina*

94.4 percent

Number 22: Oregon*

94.3 percent

Number 23: Georgia

94 percent

Number 24: Massachusetts

93.9 percent

Number 25: Maine*

93.8 percent

Number 26: Nevada

93.6 percent

Number 27: New Mexico

93.4 percent

Continue to keep counting down the measles vaccination rates across the U.S., including in Colorado. Number 28: Florida

93.2 percent

Number 29: Michiga

93 percent

Number 30: Minnesota

92.6 percent

Number 31: Alaska

92.5 percent

Number 32: Alabama*

92 percent

Number 33: Kentucky

91.9 percent

Number 34: Iowa

91 percent

Number 35: Indiana

90.2 percent

Number 36: North Dakota

89.4 percent

Number 37: Washington, D.C.

88.8 percent

Number 38: Idaho

86.5 percent

Number 39: Kansas

85.5 percent

Number 40: Arkansas

85.4 percent

Number 41: Pennsylvania

84 percent

Number 42: Colorado

81.7 percent

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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