NEW YORK (AP) — Last year, vaccination rates in US kindergartens were again inched, bringing the percentage of children exempted to an all-time high. Federal data Posted on Thursday.
The proportion of children who were exempt from the vaccine requirements increased from 3.7% the previous year to 4.1%. It is the third record-breaking year for exemption rates, with the majority of parents withholding shots for non-medical reasons.
Meanwhile, 92.5% of kindergarteners in 2024-25 got the necessary measles-Lubella shots. Previous year. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the vaccination rate was 95%. This is at a low level that a single infection will cause clusters of disease or outbreaks.
Vaccinations have been posted as the US experienced the worst years Measles is spreading Over 30 years, there have been over 1,300 cases so far.
“Of course, the concern is that if we immerse ourselves in the (vaccination) coverage, we’ll see more measles in the coming months,” says Dr. Sean Ollery, Ph.D. of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Allley, a University of Colorado pediatric infectious disease expert, said this year’s outbreak could drive more parents, and that children could be vaccinated before going to school.
But Dr. Philip Fan is not optimistic. Texas has been a particularly intense hit with measles this year, with more than half of which reported nationwide. Nevertheless, the state Passed the law It allows parents to facilitate school vaccine exemptions for their children.
“It’s crazy,” said Fan, Dallas County health director.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have traditionally released vaccination compensation data for the flagship publication The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report. CDC officials usually talk about trends and possible explanations and emphasize the importance of vaccination. This year, the agency quietly posted the data online and when asked about it, it sent an email statement.
“The decision to receive vaccination is personal. Parents should consult with their healthcare provider about family options,” the statement said. “Vaccinations are the most effective way to protect children from serious illnesses such as measles and pertussis, and can lead to hospitalization and long-term health complications.”
The wording is more vague about the importance of vaccination than in the past. That coincides with communications from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the leading voice of the anti-vaccine movement before President Donald Trump took charge of the federal health agency.
O’Leary has noted changes to CDC messaging.
“It’s very concerning to undermine the language or weaken the messages they’re sending because what they say is important,” he said.
Public health officials are focusing on vaccination rates for kindergarten children. Because schools are cauldrons of bacteria and can fire pads for community development.
For years these charges have been high, but mainly thanks to the obligation to attend schools that require important vaccinations. All US states and territories require children attending parenting centers and schools to be vaccinated Many illnessesincluding measles, mumps, polio, tetanus, pertussis, and chicken pox.
All states allow exemptions for children with medical conditions to avoid receiving certain vaccines. And almost Exemptions are also permitted For religious or other non-medical reasons.
Over the past decade, the percentage of kindergarten children who received medical exemptions has been stable at around 0.2%. However, the proportion of non-medical exemptions is increasing.
Fees can be influenced by policies that make it more difficult or easier to obtain the exemption, and local attitudes among families and doctors about the need to vaccinate children. Online false reporting and Political disparities The emergence around the Covid-19 vaccine has led more parents to question the routine childhood vaccinations, experts say.
According to CDC data, 15.4% of kindergarteners had it Exemption to one or more vaccines in Idaho last year. However, it was less than 0.5% in Connecticut.
The good news is that the majority of parents continue to vaccinate their children, O’Leary said. And it is worth noting that there is a gap between vaccination rates and exemption rates. This means that there is likely an unmet access issue, he added.
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The Associated Press School of Health Sciences is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institution’s Department of Science and Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. AP is solely responsible for all content.
