As reported in “Tucson Event to Provide Back-to-School Vaccines,” there is now a quick and easy way to get your child vaccinated. According to the CDC's 2025 Kindergarten Vaccination Data, Arizona currently ranks 40th in the nation for MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccinations. Our statewide vaccination rate is now 88.6%, an all time low.
The MMR vaccine provides critical, long-term immunity for children, significantly reducing the risk of complications such as pneumonia. As a healthcare worker, I have witnessed firsthand the toll these complications can take. I’ve heard the wheezing as a child’s lungs fill with fluid. I’ve seen once-active kids, running and playing soccer, suddenly confined to a hospital bed.
While the MMR vaccine has been effective, keeping cases in Arizona in the single digits, outbreaks can still occur. In 2016, Arkansas experienced a measles outbreak with 248 reported cases, despite a higher vaccination rate of 94% that year.
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Protect your child and our community. Get them vaccinated.
Wesley Peng
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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