In October 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published kindergarten immunization rates for the 2023-2024 school year and compared them to those of the previous four years (Seither R, OB Yusuf, D Dramann, et al. “Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten—United States, 2023-2024 School Year.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2024) 73:925-932). The results were concerning.
Investigators found that 1) national kindergarten coverage for state-required vaccines declined from 95% to 93%, below the level necessary for herd immunity for highly contagious diseases; 2) coverage declined to less than 93% for DTaP and MMR vaccines; 3) the rate of nonmedical exemptions (i.e., philosophical or religious) increased to 3.3%, the highest rate ever recorded; and 4) an increase in nonmedical exemptions occurred in 41 jurisdictions and was greater than 5% in 14 of 41 jurisdictions.
The authors concluded that “Decreasing vaccination coverage and increasing exemptions increase the risk for vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.” Indeed, according to the CDC, outbreaks of both measles and pertussis were greater this past year than in the four previous years. It’s a dangerous game we play when we choose not to vaccinate our children.
Contributed by: Paul A. Offit, MD
In October 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published kindergarten immunization rates for the 2023-2024 school year and compared them to those of the previous four years (Seither R, OB Yusuf, D Dramann, et al. “Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten—United States, 2023-2024 School Year.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2024) 73:925-932). The results were concerning.
Investigators found that 1) national kindergarten coverage for state-required vaccines declined from 95% to 93%, below the level necessary for herd immunity for highly contagious diseases; 2) coverage declined to less than 93% for DTaP and MMR vaccines; 3) the rate of nonmedical exemptions (i.e., philosophical or religious) increased to 3.3%, the highest rate ever recorded; and 4) an increase in nonmedical exemptions occurred in 41 jurisdictions and was greater than 5% in 14 of 41 jurisdictions.
The authors concluded that “Decreasing vaccination coverage and increasing exemptions increase the risk for vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.” Indeed, according to the CDC, outbreaks of both measles and pertussis were greater this past year than in the four previous years. It’s a dangerous game we play when we choose not to vaccinate our children.
Contributed by: Paul A. Offit, MD