The Mississippi State Department of Health recently announced that eight Mississippi counties had kindergarten vaccine rates fall below the 95% threshold necessary for herd immunity. After Mississippi’s first infant death due to whooping cough in 13 years, Dan Edney said whooping cough is an example of a disease that has to be constantly guarded against. He added that declining vaccination rates are influencing the number of cases we’ve seen recently. The column does not necessarily represent the views of the Mississippi Free Press, its staff or board members. Mississippi Free Press stories are always free because we believe everyone should have access to quality journalism.