The share of kindergartners who received vaccine exemptions in the US has risen to another record high during the 2023-24 academic year, according to federal data.
Vaccine exemptions among US kindergartners increased to 3.3% in the 2023-24 academic year, leaving more than 125,000 new schoolchildren without shots for at least one state-mandated vaccine.
In comparison, there were only 3% of kindergartners exempted from one or more vaccines in the prior year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The data also noted that the share of kindergartners who got the required vaccines fell to 92.7% for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shots, and 92.3% for diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP). For perspective, the vaccine coverage rate in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic was 95%.
Where Vaccination Exemptions Increased the Most
Exceptions increased in 40 states across the US as well as in the District of Columbia. States with the highest vaccine exemptions include Idaho (14.3%), Alaska (9.5%), Utah (9.3%), Oregon (8.9%), and Arizona (8.5%), per CDC data.
All states in the US require students to receive vaccine shots against certain communicable diseases. However, they grant vaccine exemptions based on religious beliefs and medical reasons, including severe allergic reactions, compromised immune systems, and previous adverse reactions to the shots.
That said, some states like California and New York do not allow for any exemptions for nonmedical reasons, according to Simmons University.
Effect of Lagging Vaccination Rates
Some health experts warned that a dip in vaccination rates could create opportunities for illnesses to spread.
Already, some communities with low vaccination rates have seen outbreaks of contagious diseases. In Chicago, for instance, health officials reported a measles outbreak earlier this year. At least 57 cases were linked to people living in a migrant shelter.
As of Sept. 26, the US has reported a cumulative 264 reported cases of measles. In comparison, there were only 59 measles cases reported in 2023. One dose of the measles vaccine is 93% effective at preventing infection while two doses are about 97% effective.
