
ZIP-Code Measles Risk Map Uses Local Vaccination Rates to Forecast Outbreaks
A new ZIP-code outbreak map estimates measles risk by local MMR vaccination levels, showing hot spots with low coverage and higher outbreak risk. Based on a national sample of over 22,000 adults with young children and data from researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard, and Mount Sinai, the study (published in Nature Health) highlights that lower vaccination rates drive spread, while higher rates create herd immunity. The article notes the US had a record number of measles cases in 2025, a decline in kindergarten vaccination rates since pre-COVID, and emphasizes that risk is highly local, so localized data can help families and officials make informed vaccination decisions.











