Diseases Making a Comeback in Alabama Schools Amid Rising Vaccine Exemptions
by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
As Alabama lawmakers debate Rep. Ernie Yarbrough’s vaccine-related legislation, health experts warn of the renewed threat of measles, meningitis, TB, whooping cough, and other vaccine preventable diseases in school systems statewide. Due to a concerning national trend, measles cases are increasing in Alabama. Health officials continue to stress the importance of the MMR vaccine to protect the community.
A bill introduced by Alabama State Representative Ernie Yarbrough (R–Trinity) seeks to shield individuals from what he calls “social ostracization” over vaccine choices. Public health officials, however, warn the measure could unravel decades of progress and expose children to multiple preventable diseases.
Yarbrough frames his effort as a corrective to pandemic-era policies:
“When I was a constituent… and all this COVID mandate and vaccine garbage was going on… we had people in our district who were fired for not getting the vaccine,” he told 1819 News.
“I believe that all of those things should be an option for individuals to make that decision between them and their doctors, and it’s our job to protect those under our care.” (Quotes via 1819 News)
Declining Immunity, Rising Risk
Measles (Herd immunity threshold: ~95%)
Alabama’s vaccination rate for toddlers is 87.9%, well below the 95% level. The Alabama Department of Public Health confirms this significant gap places communities at serious risk. In 2025, two suspected measles cases—both in unvaccinated children—were investigated, one in Lee County.
“It is coming. We expect we’ll have measles pretty soon,” warned State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris.
Pertussis / Whooping Cough (Effective herd protection: ~92% with DTaP boosters)
Pertussis cases in Alabama soared 300% from 41 in 2023 to 123 in 2024, and by spring 2025, over 315 investigations were underway. An outbreak in Mobile County saw 52 school-aged cases, even among vaccinated children because immunity wanes.
With declining booster coverage, the state falls short of sustained herd protection.
Meningococcal Meningitis (Threshold ~85–90%)
Outbreaks of life-threatening meningitis are rising nationally, with 503 U.S. cases in 2024—the highest since 2013. Alabama schools mandate parent notifications about the MenACWY vaccine, but current teen coverage is estimated around 78–80%, below the safe threshold.
Tuberculosis (TB)
Unlike other diseases, TB relies on no vaccine-based herd immunity in the U.S.—the BCG vaccine is not routinely used here. Instead, prevention hinges on testing, treatment, and isolating active cases. TB cases in Alabama rose 41.5% between 2022 and 2023, signaling community transmission risk, especially in congregate settings. Alabama Department of Public Health
The Diseases Making a Comeback in Alabama Schools
• Measles: With only ~88% coverage, Alabama is far below the immunity threshold. A single case can trigger outbreaks.
• Pertussis: Despite vaccination, waning immunity has fueled explosive spread—especially in schools.
• Meningitis: Sub 90% coverage in teens puts Alabama at elevated risk for explosive clusters in youth settings.
• TB: Rising adult cases increase the risk of latent, hard-to-track infections that threaten exposed children.
Where Alabama Stands
Dr. Karen Landers, ADPH Chief Medical Officer, stresses:
“Vaccination is more than a personal decision—it is a safeguard for all our children against deadly infections like meningitis.”
State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris adds:
“Whooping cough can obstruct infant airways; our immunization defense can’t be weakened.”
As Alabama lawmakers debate Rep. Yarbrough’s bill, the data are clear: current vaccine levels fall short of protective thresholds for measles, pertussis, and meningitis. TB is climbing quietly. Weakening vaccine safeguards risks inviting outbreaks once thought eradicated.
