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May 18, 2026

Pittsburgh's Dangerous Drop in Vaccination Rates

City Cast Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh's Dangerous Drop in Vaccination Rates

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Measles is on the rise across the U.S., and experts say outbreaks aren't hypothetical anymore. At least 40,000 PA students are missing required vaccines, and many schools have dropped below the 95% herd immunity threshold that helps stop epidemic-like spread. (Some Pittsburgh-area schools are dangerously low in the 70% range.) Why are districts letting kids attend school without vaccines or valid exemptions, and why isn't the state consistently stepping in? Mike Wereschagin, a reporter and editor with the Post-Gazette's investigative team, joins host Megan Harris to discuss his revelatory investigation and where we go from here.

Mike and his team built a database where you can look up the vaccination rate at any school in PA, something the state itself doesn't provide. Check it out here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this Monday, May 18th episode:

PGH Cultural Trust

PGH Book Fest

Window Nation

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Frick Pittsburgh

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