A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals alarming statistics about vaccination rates among American kindergarten students. The report, released on Thursday, highlights the rising exemption rates for core childhood vaccines in 41 states last year. According to the CDC, children's rates of vaccination in the country are currently at a record low.
The report specifically focuses on the number of kindergarten students who began the 2022-2023 school year with exemptions from at least one of the four state-required childhood vaccines: Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR), Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), Poliovirus (polio) vaccine, and Varicella vaccine (protects against chickenpox). Shockingly, the exemption rate for these vaccines has increased from 2.6% to 3% during the last school year, which is the highest that has ever been reported in the country.
Furthermore, the CDC reveals that exemptions rose in 41 states, with 10 states reporting exemption rates as high as 5%. This is a concerning trend as an exemption rate of 5% or greater "increases the risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases," as stated in the CDC report. Ultimately, the report discloses that 3.0% of kindergartners had an exemption, with 0.2% being medical exemptions and 2.8% being non-medical exemptions. Notably, non-medical exemptions account for over 90% of reported exemptions and are responsible for the increase in the national exemption rate.
The CDC acknowledges that it is unclear whether this rise in exemptions reflects a true increase in opposition to vaccination or if parents are opting for non-medical exemptions due to barriers to vaccination or convenience. The study also notes some limitations, including variations in vaccination requirements by state, variations in data collection times and methods, and the potential for inaccurate or absent documentation that could impact the data.
In response to these concerning findings, the CDC emphasizes the need for the enforcement of school vaccination requirements, the establishment of school-based vaccination clinics, the implementation of reminder and recall systems, and follow-up with undervaccinated students to improve vaccination coverage. It is crucial to ensure that children are fully vaccinated against infectious diseases before entering school to prevent outbreaks. The CDC's report serves as a reminder of the importance of vaccination and the potential consequences of vaccine hesitancy.
This report comes at a time when vaccine hesitancy remains high, with anti-vaccine activists spreading misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the report does not definitively determine the reasons behind the increase in non-medical exemptions, it raises concerns about the impact of opposition to vaccination and the potential barriers or inconveniences that parents may face when trying to vaccinate their children.
In conclusion, the CDC's report sheds light on the concerning rise in exemption rates for childhood vaccines among American kindergarten students. It highlights the importance of addressing vaccine hesitancy and implementing measures to improve vaccination coverage to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
