"Rising Vaccine Exemption Rates Endanger Elementary-Aged Kids: CDC Report"
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the proportion of kindergarten-aged children with exemptions from vaccination requirements reached an unprecedented 3% in the 2022-23 school year, the highest rate ever recorded. Nonmedical exemptions accounted for over 90% of the increase, with 10 states reporting exemption rates of over 5% for at least one vaccine. The overall vaccination coverage for kindergartners remained at 93%, a concern for public health officials who stress the need to achieve ≥95% coverage to prevent outbreaks of preventable diseases. The reasons for the increase in exemptions are unclear, but the CDC calls for a better understanding of the factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and the development of policies to improve vaccination rates.