Childhood Vaccine Exemptions Reach Record High in U.S. Schools

Why it matters locally: The increase in childhood vaccine exemptions and slight decline in vaccination coverage rates highlighted by federal health officials will likely prompt closer examination of immunization policies and practices within Illinois schools and local health departments across the state.

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Federal health officials reported an increase in childhood vaccine exemptions during the 2022-2023 school year. Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday indicates that the percentage of kindergarteners with an exemption for at least one required vaccine reached 3%, the highest national rate recorded since the CDC began tracking this metric. This figure represents an increase from the previous school year, when 2.6% of kindergarteners had exemptions. For comparison, the exemption rate stood at 1.7% during the 2011-2012 school year. The CDC collects data on vaccine exemptions from states across the country. These exemptions typically include personal belief or religious reasons. Medical exemptions, which doctors grant for specific health conditions, are also recorded but comprise a much smaller percentage of the total. Simultaneously, the national vaccination coverage rate for required inoculations among kindergarteners declined slightly. The CDC found that 93.1% of kindergarteners had received all required vaccines during the 2022-2023 school year. This represents a minor decrease from the 93.5% reported in the 2021-2022 school year. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccination coverage rate consistently remained above 95%. Officials also noted a continued decline in kindergarten enrollment. The data shows 3.8 million children enrolled in kindergarten during the 2022-2023 school year, a decrease of approximately 300,000 students compared to pre-pandemic levels. This decline in enrollment potentially impacts the overall vaccination coverage calculations. Additionally, the CDC indicated that approximately 4% of kindergarteners were not up-to-date on their vaccinations but did not have an exemption. State and local health departments typically work to ensure these children receive their required immunizations.