U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates fell last year, with 92.7% of kindergartners receiving required shots, down from previous years and significantly below the pre-pandemic rate of 95%. The percentage of children exempted from vaccines rose to an all-time high of 3.3%, translating to around 80,000 unvaccinated children. This decline has contributed to a rise in cases of vaccine-preventable diseases like whooping cough and measles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted decreased vaccination coverage across more than 30 states for key vaccines. Nonmedical exemptions have increased, while medical exemptions have remained stable. Variations in exemption rates are influenced by state laws and community attitudes toward vaccines.
Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Dip with Nonmedical Exemptions on the Rise
< 1 min read
