US Childhood Vaccine Exemptions Reach Record High Amid Stagnant Vaccination Rates

Latest CDC report reveals 3% of kindergarten students had an exemption to mandatory vaccination in 2022-2023, a rise that coincides with resurgence in preventable diseases like measles; experts cite growing distrust in healthcare, COVID-19 misinformation as possible factors.

US CDC reports that childhood vaccine exemptions for kindergarteners have reached their highest level, with 3% exempt from mandatory vaccination in 2022-2023, up from 2.6% in prior school year.
CDC attributes this rise to growing distrust in the healthcare system and COVID-19 related misinformation, but couldn't definitively conclude whether it's a sign of increased opposition to vaccination or just due to barriers or inconvenience.
The report also reveals that vaccination coverage among kindergarteners fell from 95% pre-pandemic to 93% in recent school years, which poses risks of outbreaks in highly contagious diseases like measles.
A 2022 KFF survey found that the COVID vaccine debates may have affected parents' attitudes, with Republicans or those leaning Republican showing a significant increase in belief that parents should be allowed to skip childhood vaccines, even if it poses health risks for others.
Non-medical exemptions, granted due to religious or philosophical reasons, account for over 90% of all reported exemptions, with the highest rates observed in Idaho and the lowest in New York.