Child Vaccinations Up, CDC Says

KYW's Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- We have been hearing a great deal of discouraging news regarding kids and vaccines lately. A growing number of easily preventable problems have been resurfacing due to some people not vaccinating their kids.

But there is good news.

According to the CDC, median coverage neared 95% for vaccines required for kindergarten entry, including increases in MMR coverage –that's measles, mumps and rubella since last year. Pertussis and varicella were not far behind.

Overall, 32 states reported an increase in MMR coverage compared with the 2014-2015 school year.

One theory is this may be due to the 2015 measles outbreaks which included 159 persons from 18 states -- 80% of whom were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.