A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a continued decline in vaccine coverage among kindergartners in the U.S.

Data from the 2023-2024 school year indicates that vaccination rates for all reported vaccines have dropped slightly compared to the previous year. Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) coverage stands at 92.3 percent, while measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) coverage is at 92.7 percent—far below the federal target of 95 percent. Thirty states reported decreases in MMR, DTaP, polio, and varicella (VAR) vaccine coverage during this period.

Although the percentage declines may appear small—MMR coverage, for instance, fell from 93.1 percent to 92.7 percent—even minor changes are contributing to significant public health risks. Recent measles outbreaks across 17 states, along with a rise in whooping cough cases, demonstrate how these slight shifts in vaccination rates can lead to larger outbreaks across the country.

“The broader story is that vaccination coverage decreased in 35 states, and 14 states out of those 35 had at least one full percentage point drop," Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, told CNN. "What that translates to is about 280,000 students without proof of complete vaccinations."

Freeman also noted that the risk is not uniform across the country. “The more you consider local communities and neighborhoods, the more the risk can be different, because you see these larger pockets of vaccine-hesitant communities,” she said. “We often see congregations of the same people together in these communities, and disease can spread rapidly because they all have similar beliefs.”

In these vaccine-resistant communities and beyond, vaccine exemptions have also increased, particularly for nonmedical reasons. During the 2023-2024 school year, 3.3 percent of kindergartners were exempt from one or more vaccines, up from 3 percent the previous year. Exemptions increased in 40 states and the District of Columbia, with 14 states reporting exemptions exceeding 5 percent.

"Public health officials are concerned about the declining vaccination rates among kindergartners," said Dr. Marcus Plescia, Chief Medical Officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. "Childhood vaccines are safe and effective, and they’ve played a profound role in reducing suffering and death from what were once feared infectious diseases."

For more information on the vaccines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and their importance, check out this easy guide and schedule for your child's vaccines.

Vaccines