Parents seek higher share of vaccine exemptions for kindergartners

In the 2022-2023 school year, the overall vaccine exemption rate for kindergarten children rose to 3.0%, up from 2.6% in the previous school year. This percentage marks the highest level of exemptions ever reported in the United States.

While 41 states have increased their exemption rates, 10 of them exceed the CDC’s 5% limit. For example, Idaho has the highest exemption rate in the country at 12%.

0.2% of exemptions were for medical reasons and 2.8% were for non-medical reasons. Forty-four states allow a religious exemption and 15 states allow a philosophical (or personal belief) exemption. Washington, D.C. allows exemptions.

All 50 states require DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), IPV (polio), and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines, with most requiring further vaccinations with MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and HepB (type B hepatitis) vaccine. A few states also require Hep A (hepatitis A), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), and PCV (pneumococcus) vaccines.

The CDC claims that 95% of children should be vaccinated to maintain herd immunity: “Exemptions beyond 5% limit the vaccination coverage that can be achieved, which increases the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. It is unclear whether this Reflecting a real increase in opposition to vaccination, or whether parents are choosing non-medical exemptions because of barriers to vaccination or out of convenience.”

discuss a problem

1. Should kindergarteners be required to be vaccinated to attend public schools? Why or why not?

2. Should vaccinations be exempted for non-medical reasons? Why or why not?

3. Should others be required to get vaccinated? Consider teachers, health care providers and other professionals. Explain your reasoning.

source

CDC, “Selected Vaccine Coverage and School Vaccine Requirement Waivers for Kindergartners—United States, 2022-23 School Year,” cdc.gov, November 10, 2023