Kindergarteners are less protected from infectious diseases than in previous years
Vaccination rates among kindergarten children declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the latest data suggest that rates are continuing to decrease rather than recover. Pre-pandemic rates measured coverage for several vaccines at 95%, but in the most recent data (2023-2024), coverage for the same vaccines fell below 93%. This report does not explore reasons behind the decreased coverage rates, but vaccine hesitancy that increased as a result of the pandemic is likely to be a contributing factor. Regardless of the reasons, the result will be increases in cases of disease.
Find out more:
- Hear Dr. Offit discuss these data in the November 2024 “Vaccines and Infectious Diseases in the News” video.
- Check the report published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Questions about vaccine safety? Check out our updated booklet.
The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) has had a vaccine safety booklet for several years. It was excerpted from a 2011 book, Vaccines and Your Child: Separating Fact from Fiction, written by VEC Director and Co-director, Dr. Paul Offit and Charlotte Moser, respectively. This fall, an updated version, Vaccines and Your Family: Separating Fact from Fiction, was released by Columbia University Press. With permission, the VEC has now updated our safety booklet.
The updated version includes new content, including:
- Do vaccines affect fertility?
- Do vaccines cause antibody-dependent enhancement?
- Do mRNA vaccines change our DNA?
- What can I do to make vaccinations less stressful?
- Are vaccines free?
- What should I expect or watch for after vaccinations?
- Should I treat a fever that develops after vaccination?
- How can I talk to those with different ideas about vaccines?
The updated safety booklet also includes a code for a 30% discount on the book when ordered directly from Columbia University Press.
Check out the updated booklet today: English | Spanish
Kindergarteners are less protected from infectious diseases than in previous years
Vaccination rates among kindergarten children declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the latest data suggest that rates are continuing to decrease rather than recover. Pre-pandemic rates measured coverage for several vaccines at 95%, but in the most recent data (2023-2024), coverage for the same vaccines fell below 93%. This report does not explore reasons behind the decreased coverage rates, but vaccine hesitancy that increased as a result of the pandemic is likely to be a contributing factor. Regardless of the reasons, the result will be increases in cases of disease.
Find out more:
- Hear Dr. Offit discuss these data in the November 2024 “Vaccines and Infectious Diseases in the News” video.
- Check the report published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Questions about vaccine safety? Check out our updated booklet.
The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) has had a vaccine safety booklet for several years. It was excerpted from a 2011 book, Vaccines and Your Child: Separating Fact from Fiction, written by VEC Director and Co-director, Dr. Paul Offit and Charlotte Moser, respectively. This fall, an updated version, Vaccines and Your Family: Separating Fact from Fiction, was released by Columbia University Press. With permission, the VEC has now updated our safety booklet.
The updated version includes new content, including:
- Do vaccines affect fertility?
- Do vaccines cause antibody-dependent enhancement?
- Do mRNA vaccines change our DNA?
- What can I do to make vaccinations less stressful?
- Are vaccines free?
- What should I expect or watch for after vaccinations?
- Should I treat a fever that develops after vaccination?
- How can I talk to those with different ideas about vaccines?
The updated safety booklet also includes a code for a 30% discount on the book when ordered directly from Columbia University Press.
Check out the updated booklet today: English | Spanish