Alexandria’s childhood vaccination rates have fallen to concerning levels, dropping from 95% in 2019 to just 88% last school year for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, according to new data from an NBC News investigation published Monday.
The decline affects Alexandria City Public Schools’ 16,335 students across 18 schools. It puts the city below the critical 95% vaccination threshold needed for “herd immunity” — the level required to prevent measles outbreaks and stop disease spread within a community.
Alexandria’s decline makes it an outlier in Northern Virginia, where neighboring jurisdictions maintain significantly higher rates: Arlington County at 98%, Loudoun County at 97%, and both Fairfax and Prince William counties at 96%.
The decline is particularly concerning as it puts Alexandria’s students at risk during a year when measles cases nationwide have reached their highest levels in over three decades.
Under Virginia law and ACPS policy, students must receive comprehensive immunizations, including two doses of measles vaccine, before entering kindergarten. However, parents can obtain religious exemptions by providing a notarized certificate or medical exemptions with a physician’s statement. The school system also allows “conditional enrollment” for up to 90 days for students who have not completed their vaccinations.
The Alexandria Health Department acknowledged the concerning trend but told NBC4 they don’t have a “single, clear explanation for the decline” and are working with ACPS to analyze the data more thoroughly.
Alexandria Health Department Director Dr. David Rose, a pediatrician, emphasized the importance of childhood immunizations in a letter to families this summer, noting that vaccines prevent diseases “that used to seriously harm or even kill infants, children, and adults.”
Parents seeking vaccination information can call the Alexandria Health Department at 703-746-4888 or visit their website for clinic hours and appointments.
Read the full NBC News investigation and explore vaccination data for your area.
