Vaccination Rate Decline - Since 2019, 77% of counties and jurisdictions have experienced a decline in vaccination rates [3] - 68% of counties and jurisdictions collecting MMR data now have rates below the 95% target for herd immunity [4] - St Louis kindergarten measles vaccination rates dropped from nearly 90% in 2010 to 74% in 2024 [11] Exemption Increase - 53% of counties and jurisdictions saw their exemption rates more than double from their first year of data to their most recent [6] - Exemptions are granted for religious and philosophical reasons, not just medical reasons [6][8] Contributing Factors - Growing vaccine hesitancy, fueled by online misinformation, contributes to the decline [9] - Lower-income areas face difficulties in accessing vaccines, impacting vaccination rates [10] - Some schools may be overlooking vaccine mandates due to concerns about losing federal funding [12][14] Potential Consequences - Experts predict another outbreak is a matter of time [16] - A potential outbreak in a city like St Louis could have significantly larger consequences than the Gaines County outbreak, which saw 100 hospitalizations and two child deaths [11]

International Relations & Security - US military conducted a deadly strike on a Venezuelan boat allegedly transporting drugs, resulting in three deaths, with President Trump calling them "narco terrorists" [1][5][6][7][8] - The Trump administration labeled the Venezuelan government under Nicholas Maduro as a "narco terror cartel" [9] - The UK is planning a major security operation for President Trump's visit, including armed officers, snipers, and a no-fly zone around Windsor Castle [24][25][26][27] Crime & Justice - FBI revealed DNA evidence linking a suspect to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, indicating a possible motive of hatred for Kirk's political views [2][12][13] - The Trump administration is intensifying efforts to find and punish Americans who criticize Charlie Kirk, with some employers firing or suspending individuals for their online posts [19][20] - A 16-year-old shooter in Colorado was active on a violent Gore website and expressed neo-Nazi views, raising concerns about online radicalization [28][29][30][31][32][33] - President Trump is sending federal agents and National Guard to Memphis to address crime [1][10] Public Health - Childhood vaccine rates are plummeting across the US, with a significant drop in measles vaccination rates in St Louis, Missouri, from nearly 90% to 74% between 2010 and 2024 [3][36][37][38] - 77% of American counties have seen vaccination rates decline since 2019, raising concerns about potential outbreaks [41] Technology & Business - A framework for a deal is in place that would allow TikTok's Chinese parent company to spin off the app and avoid a US ban, addressing national security concerns [4][34][35] - Old school analog photo booths are making a comeback, driven by a new generation discovering them through platforms like TikTok [49][50][51][52]

To go to premier charter school in St. Louis, students have to be up todate on their vaccines and go. >> School nurse Virginia Wilson makes sure they are.>> So, it's a big chunk of your job in the beginning of the school year. >> It is my entire job at the beginning of the school year. >> And she says it's getting harder.>> How many kindergarteners this year needed vaccines. >> We probably at for our school around like 20% need them. NBC News medical unit and researchers at Stanford University crunched scho ...

Vaccine Access & Public Health Policy - The report highlights concerns that new federal guidelines, influenced by RFK Jr, are creating barriers to COVID-19 vaccine access, potentially halving vaccination rates [3][4][5] - Colorado is actively working to counteract these federal restrictions by issuing a public health order to ensure easy access to COVID-19 vaccines for its residents [5] - The report expresses worry that restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines could extend to other critical vaccines like measles, potentially reversing progress in eradicating deadly diseases [9] - The industry emphasizes the importance of removing politics from healthcare decisions and empowering individuals with the information and ability to make informed choices about vaccination [17][18] Vaccination Trends & Public Opinion - National vaccination rates are declining, and public skepticism towards vaccines is increasing, contributing to a measles outbreak [13][16] - Colorado is experiencing a decrease in vaccination rates, attributed to propaganda against vaccines, primarily from the political right, and is working to reverse this trend [13][14] - The industry advocates for data-driven decision-making, emphasizing that vaccines are safe, highly effective, and a great way to protect children [14][15] Political & Governmental Response - The report mentions that many Senate Democrats and public health officials are calling for the resignation of RFK Jr [18][19] - Colorado opposes vaccine mandates, favoring education and empowerment to encourage vaccination [11][12] - The industry supports empowering people to make their own healthcare choices, removing barriers to advanced medicine and vaccines, and reforming the FDA to speed up the approval process for life-saving drugs [20][21]

Public Health Crisis - CDC reports nearly 1300 measles cases confirmed in 2025, the highest since 1992 [1] Vaccination Trends - Falling vaccination rates could lead to a surge in measles cases [1]