### U.S. Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Decline, Exemptions Reach Record High

Federal data has revealed a decline in kindergarten vaccination rates in the U.S. for the past year, alongside an unprecedented rise in the proportion of vaccine exemptions among children. According to information released on Tuesday, 92.7 percent of kindergartners received their required vaccinations, a figure that has decreased slightly from previous years. The proportion of children granted exemptions to vaccination requirements has jumped to an all-time high of 3.3 percent, compared to 3 percent the previous year.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates were steady at 95 percent, a level that effectively prevents outbreaks. The recent dip, however, signifies approximately 80,000 children not being vaccinated, which poses a significant public health risk, experts assert. Dr. Raynard Washington, chair of the Big Cities Health Coalition, emphasized that these lower vaccination rates explain the rising instances of whooping cough, measles, and other preventable diseases.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that for the 2023-2024 school year, coverage for crucial vaccines such as MMR, DTaP, polio, and chickenpox has declined in over 30 states. Public health officials underscore the importance of vaccination rates particularly for kindergartners, as schools are dense environments conducive to germ transmission and potential community outbreaks.

U.S. states and territories mandate vaccinations for children attending childcare centers and schools to protect against diseases like measles, mumps, polio, tetanus, whooping cough, and chickenpox. While all states allow exemptions for medical reasons, the rise in nonmedical exemptions over the past decade has contributed to the overall increase, with rates doubling from 1.6 percent in the 2011-2012 school year to over 3 percent last year.

State laws, policies, and local attitudes significantly influence exemption rates. For instance, the CDC reports that 14.3 percent of kindergartners in Idaho had an exemption to at least one vaccine, whereas fewer than 1 percent had exemptions in Connecticut and Mississippi. Experts like Noel Brewer from the University of North Carolina highlight that the clustering of unvaccinated children within communities can increase the risk of outbreaks.

The decline in vaccination rates is partly attributed to the spread of online misinformation and polarized views on COVID-19 vaccines, leading to an increase in parental skepticism towards routine childhood immunizations. This trend has already been observed in places like Louisville, Kentucky, and a recent CDC report also noted lower vaccination rates among 2-year-olds.

The resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases is evident, with the highest levels of measles and whooping cough reported since 2019, and 200 flu-associated pediatric deaths recorded this season—the highest since 2009. Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, North Carolina, has reported the state’s first measles case since 2018, along with multiple whooping cough and mumps infections earlier this year.

Dr. Washington stressed the added risk posed by increased international travel and new residents, which makes maintaining high vaccination coverage crucial. The decline in vaccination rates could foster the reintroduction and spread of dangerous diseases, he warned.