Child Vaccine Exemptions Reach All-Time High in More Than 40 States
A report released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed concerning trends regarding childhood vaccine exemptions. According to the report, exemption rates for childhood vaccines have surged in more than 40 states, reaching the highest levels ever reported.
For the 2022-2023 school year, the vaccine exemption rate has increased to 3% among the more than 3.8 million children entering kindergarten. This marks a troubling increase from previous years, as the overall exemption rate has never been this high, according to the CDC.
Data from 49 states and Washington, D.C. indicated an increase in exemption rates for state-required vaccines among public school kindergarteners. Additionally, 48 states and D.C. also reported data on exemption rates for private school kindergarteners. The findings underscore the widespread nature of the issue and its potential impact on public health.
The report also highlighted substantial variations in exemption rates across different states. States such as Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin reported exemption rates exceeding 5%. Particularly alarming is Idaho, which recorded the highest exemption rate at 12.1%. The CDC stressed that exemption rates over 5% significantly increase the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
However, Montana was notably absent from the analysis as the state did not report vaccination data for both the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.
Despite the increase in exemption rates, overall vaccine coverage for reported vaccines remained near 93% for the 2022-2023 school year. Vaccines covered include DTap (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis), polio, and measles, mumps, and rubella. The CDC cautioned that high exemption rates pose a substantial risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
It is important to note that all states allow vaccine exemptions for medical reasons, with some states also permitting exemptions for religious or philosophical reasons. However, in some states, medical evidence is required to support a child’s inability to receive a vaccine.
The rise in vaccine exemptions has raised concerns among public health officials and experts as it poses a potential threat to efforts to control and prevent disease outbreaks. It is imperative that measures be taken to address the underlying reasons for the increase in exemptions and to ensure the protection of public health.