A growing number of families are seeking vaccine exemptions for their kindergarten-aged children.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccine exemption rates rose to 3.3% in the 2023-2024 school year, up from 3.0% the year prior.
Vaccine coverage for kindergartners is 92.3% for diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), while coverage for measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) is 92.7%.
Exemptions rose across 40 U.S. states and Washington, DC. Fourteen states reported exemptions exceeding 5%.
In a November 2023 report, the CDC said exemptions greater than five percent “limit the level of achievable vaccination coverage, which increases the risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.”
According to a trend chart, vaccine exemptions have increased since the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, Texas had 14,727 vaccine exemptions, according to an interactive chart provided by the CDC, while Florida is reported as having 11,031 vaccine exemptions during the same academic year.
Thirty states, as well as Washington, DC, allow religious exemptions for vaccines, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Thirteen states allow exemptions for both religious and personal reasons. Five states do not allow any type of non-medical vaccine exemptions.
