Rates of vaccination among kindergartners ticked down in the 2024–2025 school year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on July 31, as the number of exemptions rose.
Some 92.1 percent of kindergartners in the school year had the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine, down from 92.3 percent in the previous year, the CDC said.
Chickenpox vaccination declined from 92.3 percent to 92.1 percent; measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination went from 92.7 percent to 92.5 percent; and polio vaccination decreased from 92.7 percent to 92.5 percent in the 2024–2025 school year from the 2023–2024 school year, according to the newly released data.
Coverage with the diphtheria, chickenpox, measles, and polio vaccines also decreased in more than half of the states in America.
The rate of hepatitis B vaccination slightly increased, by 0.1 percent, to 94 percent.
At the same time, the number of exemptions increased to 3.6 percent, up from 3.3 percent. Most of the exemptions were for nonmedical reasons, such as religious reasons. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently called for states to eliminate nonmedical exemptions, although some other groups say they should remain in place.
It’s the fourth straight year that exemptions have increased. In the 2022–2023 school year, 3 percent of kindergartners had an exemption.
About 138,000 kindergartners were exempt from receiving one or more required vaccines for the latest school year.
All 50 states require that children starting kindergarten have received the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine; the chickenpox, or varicella, vaccine; the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; and the polio vaccine.
Every state allows medical exemptions to the requirements for children whose doctors attest that they cannot receive a shot without concern that it will trigger a problem. Forty-five states allow nonmedical exemptions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
When reporting declining vaccination rates in 2024, the CDC called on health departments, schools, and health care providers to ramp up efforts to make sure students begin school with all of the required vaccines.
In an email to The Epoch Times on Thursday, a CDC spokesperson said that the new data show that most children in the United States receive routine vaccinations, “helping protect schools and communities from preventable diseases.”
“The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. Parents should consult their healthcare providers on options for their families. Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect children from serious diseases like measles and whooping cough, which can lead to hospitalization and long-term health complications,” the spokesperson said.
“CDC is committed to working closely with state and local partners by providing tools, resources, and data that help communities promote vaccine access and awareness. The agency will continue to track coverage rates nationwide and support gold-standard, evidence-based efforts that keep children safe and healthy.”