Record share of US kindergartners missed required vaccinations last year, ahead of surge in measles cases
About 3.6% of incoming kindergartners in the 2024-25 school year had an exemption for a required vaccine, leaving about 138,000 new schoolchildren without full coverage for at least one state-mandated vaccine, the new data shows. Exemptions jumped more than a full percentage point over the past four years, the CDC data shows, and the vast majority – all but 0.2% – were for non-medical reasons.
About 286,000 kindergartners had not completed the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination series in the 2024-25 school year, as cases climbed this year to the highest they've been since the disease was declared eliminated in the US a quarter-century ago.
MMR coverage dropped to 92.5%, marking the fifth year in a row that coverage has been below the federal target of 95%, according to the CDC data. The vast majority of this year's measles cases have been in unvaccinated children.
'Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect children from serious diseases like measles and whooping cough, which can lead to hospitalization and long-term health complications,' the CDC said in a statement. 'CDC is committed to working closely with state and local partners by providing tools, resources, and data that help communities promote vaccine access and awareness.'
But the statement also echoed language that is often used by US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., saying that 'the decision to vaccinate is a personal one. Parents should consult their healthcare providers on options for their families.'
Forty-five states allow religious beliefs to be used as a basis for a vaccine exemption for children beginning school, and 15 states allow exemptions for other personal or philosophical reasons, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
'As pediatricians, we know that immunizing children helps them stay healthy, and when everyone can be immunized, it's harder for diseases to spread in our communities,' Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the AAP, said in a statement. 'At this moment when preventable diseases are on the rise, we need clear, effective communication from government leaders recommending immunizations as the best way to ensure children's immune systems are prepared to fight dangerous diseases.'
This week, the organization reaffirmed its longstanding position that non-medical exemptions to school immunization requirements should be eliminated.
'The science behind vaccines demonstrates that the benefits greatly outweigh any potential risks,' said Dr. Sean O'Leary, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. 'There really aren't good reasons to opt out.'
However, in the 2024-25 school year, vaccine exemptions increased in 36 states, according to the new CDC data. In 17 states, more than 5% of kindergartners had exemptions – meaning reminders from administrators to complete paperwork or doctor's visits won't be enough to raise coverage to the 95% goal for two doses of MMR vaccine set by HHS, a threshold necessary to help prevent outbreaks of the highly contagious disease.
'There are more and more states where even the potentially achievable coverage that we can get by catching everyone up who's overdue is getting lower and lower,' said Dr. Josh Williams, a pediatrician with Denver Health and associate professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. 'So we are now in a situation where in many states, and certainly in many communities within certain states, there's simply not enough herd immunity to protect against outbreaks of these vaccine-preventable diseases, especially measles.'
In a study from 2019, Williams and fellow researchers found interesting patterns in vaccine exemptions: When both religious and personal belief exemptions are available in a state, religious exemptions tend to be low, but rates of religious exemptions increase significantly when the personal belief exemption goes away.
'That leads to the kinds of recommendations that you see from organizations like the AAP, basically saying it appears that these exemption policies are not really doing what they were intended to do, that people are kind of using these perhaps in the ways that they were not intended,' he said.
Only five states limit vaccine exemptions to medical reasons, according to the AAP: California, Connecticut, Maine, New York and West Virginia. Numbers on MMR coverage in West Virginia were not available in the latest data from the CDC, but the four other states are among the small group of 10 states that reached the federal goal of 95% coverage among kindergartners.
In 2023, a federal court paved the way for religious exemptions to be added to Mississippi school vaccination policy. Exemption rates immediately jumped in the state, and MMR coverage has dropped about 1 percentage point, CDC data shows.
Overall, nationwide MMR coverage among kindergartners dropped from 92.7% in the 2023-24 school year to 92.5% in the 2024-25 school year, according to the CDC.
Experts say that a change like this may seem small but can significantly raise risks.
'It's a small percentage point change that adds up if it happens year over year, and that is what we've been seeing,' Williams said, and the change isn't distributed evenly. 'Individuals who tend to refuse vaccines tend to cluster together. … It's probably that the areas where there have been low uptake now have even worse uptake, and the areas where there have been more reasonable uptake continue to stay reasonable.'
The vast majority of measles cases reported in this record-breaking year have been concentrated in Texas.
MMR coverage in the state has been trending down for at least the past decade, CDC data shows, with just 93.2% coverage among kindergartners. Exemptions have surged past 4% – well above the national rate – and a law passed by the state legislature this year would make it even easier to get an exemption. Starting in September, the affidavit form to file for an exemption will be available to print from the state health department's website, without the need to file a written request.
There was a lot of testimony opposing this change, said Dr. Philip Huang, director of the Dallas County health department.
'We were making the point during the whole thing that there needs to be a consistent message of unequivocal support for vaccinations from the top,' he said. 'We're very concerned about what's happening with HHS and the messaging sort of undermining that.'
Experts say that vaccines can sometimes be 'victims of their own success,' with people not realizing how much protection they offer until they see the suffering that can happen when they're not utilized.
This year's measles outbreak – which has led to three deaths and dozens of hospitalizations, mostly among children – may raise the urgency around the need to vaccinate and help to start to turn the trend around, experts say.
'The declines that we're seeing for measles and for other vaccines are always concerning, but perhaps in the context of one of our larger measles outbreaks in recent memory, I think a lot of people have it in mind with returning to school this fall,' Williams said. 'In my clinical practice here in Denver, we are getting requests from families who are worried about measles transmission in school and in day care. We've had some families coming in who want to get that protection on board prior to the school year beginning to make sure that their child is going to be as protected as possible prior to going back to school this fall.'
Williams says he likes to remind parents that most people support vaccination and that he works hard to gain the trust of parents who are hesitant.
'It's always good to remember that the vast majority of parents vaccinate their kids on time and according to the recommended schedule,' he said. 'When that's not true in a school or in a community, I think that's an opportunity for advocates to speak up and talk to other parents and be partners in the process of improving vaccine confidence.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
3 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Got the sniffles? Here's what to know about summer colds, COVID-19 and more
Summer heat, outdoor fun ... and cold and flu symptoms ? The three may not go together in many people's minds: partly owing to common myths about germs and partly because many viruses really do have lower activity levels in the summer. But it is possible to get the sniffles — or worse — in the summer. Federal data released Friday , for example, shows COVID-19 is trending up in many parts of the country, with emergency department visits up among people of all ages. Here's what to know about summer viruses. The number of people seeking medical care for three key illnesses — COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — is currently low, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu is trending down and RSV was steady this week. But COVID-19 is trending up in many mid-Atlantic, southeast, Southern and West Coast states. The expectation is that COVID-19 will eventually settle into a winter seasonal pattern like other coronaviruses, but the past few years have brought a late summer surge, said Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at University of California Davis Children's Hospital. Other viruses circulating this time of year include the one that causes 'hand, foot and mouth' disease — which has symptoms similar to a cold, plus sores and rashes — and norovirus , sometimes called the stomach flu. Many viruses circulate seasonally, picking up as the weather cools in the fall and winter. So it's true that fewer people get stuffy noses and coughs in the summer — but cold weather itself does not cause colds. It's not just about seasonality. The other factor is our behavior, experts say. Nice weather means people are opening windows and gathering outside where it's harder for germs to spread. But respiratory viruses are still around. When the weather gets too hot and everyone heads inside for the air conditioning, doctors say they start seeing more sickness. In places where it gets really hot for a long time, summer can be cold season in its own right. 'I grew up on the East Coast and everybody gets sick in the winter,' said Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency room doctor and Arizona State University researcher. 'A lot of people get sick in the summer here. Why is that? Because you spend more time indoors.' For people who are otherwise healthy, timing is a key consideration to getting any vaccine. You want to get it a few weeks before that big trip or wedding, if that's the reason for getting boosted, doctors say. But, for most people, it may be worth waiting until the fall in anticipation of winter cases of COVID-19 really tick up. 'You want to be fully protected at the time that it's most important for you,' said Dr. Costi Sifri, of the University of Virginia Health System. People at higher risk of complications should always talk with their doctor about what is best for them, Sifri added. Older adults and those with weak immune systems may need more boosters than others, he said. Last week, the CDC noted emergency room visits among children younger than 4 were rising. That makes sense, Blumberg said, because many young kids are getting it for the first time or are unvaccinated. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in May that the shots would no longer be recommended for healthy kids, a decision that health experts have said lacks scientific basis. The American Academy of Pediatrics still endorses COVID-19 shots for children older than 6 months. The same things that help prevent colds, flu and COVID any other time of the year work in the summer, doctors say. Spend time outside when you can, wash your hands, wear a mask. And if you're sick, stay home. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Associated Press
3 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Got the sniffles? Here's what to know about summer colds, COVID-19 and more
Summer heat, outdoor fun ... and cold and flu symptoms? The three may not go together in many people's minds: partly owing to common myths about germs and partly because many viruses really do have lower activity levels in the summer. But it is possible to get the sniffles — or worse — in the summer. Federal data released Friday, for example, shows COVID-19 is trending up in many parts of the country, with emergency department visits up among people of all ages. Here's what to know about summer viruses. How much are colds and flu circulating right now? The number of people seeking medical care for three key illnesses — COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — is currently low, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu is trending down and RSV was steady this week. But COVID-19 is trending up in many mid-Atlantic, southeast, Southern and West Coast states. The expectation is that COVID-19 will eventually settle into a winter seasonal pattern like other coronaviruses, but the past few years have brought a late summer surge, said Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at University of California Davis Children's Hospital. Other viruses circulating this time of year include the one that causes 'hand, foot and mouth' disease — which has symptoms similar to a cold, plus sores and rashes — and norovirus, sometimes called the stomach flu. Do viruses spread less in the summer? Many viruses circulate seasonally, picking up as the weather cools in the fall and winter. So it's true that fewer people get stuffy noses and coughs in the summer — but cold weather itself does not cause colds. It's not just about seasonality. The other factor is our behavior, experts say. Nice weather means people are opening windows and gathering outside where it's harder for germs to spread. But respiratory viruses are still around. When the weather gets too hot and everyone heads inside for the air conditioning, doctors say they start seeing more sickness. In places where it gets really hot for a long time, summer can be cold season in its own right. 'I grew up on the East Coast and everybody gets sick in the winter,' said Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency room doctor and Arizona State University researcher. 'A lot of people get sick in the summer here. Why is that? Because you spend more time indoors.' Should you get another COVID-19 booster now? For people who are otherwise healthy, timing is a key consideration to getting any vaccine. You want to get it a few weeks before that big trip or wedding, if that's the reason for getting boosted, doctors say. But, for most people, it may be worth waiting until the fall in anticipation of winter cases of COVID-19 really tick up. 'You want to be fully protected at the time that it's most important for you,' said Dr. Costi Sifri, of the University of Virginia Health System. People at higher risk of complications should always talk with their doctor about what is best for them, Sifri added. Older adults and those with weak immune systems may need more boosters than others, he said. Are more younger kids getting sick with COVID-19? Last week, the CDC noted emergency room visits among children younger than 4 were rising. That makes sense, Blumberg said, because many young kids are getting it for the first time or are unvaccinated. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in May that the shots would no longer be recommended for healthy kids, a decision that health experts have said lacks scientific basis. The American Academy of Pediatrics still endorses COVID-19 shots for children older than 6 months. How else can I lower my risk? The same things that help prevent colds, flu and COVID any other time of the year work in the summer, doctors say. Spend time outside when you can, wash your hands, wear a mask. And if you're sick, stay home. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Will health insurance pay for Covid vaccines this fall?
If you want a Covid shot this fall, will your employer's health insurance plan pay for it? There's no clear answer. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, has upended the way Covid vaccines are approved and for whom they're recommended, creating uncertainty where coverage was routine. Agencies within HHS responsible for spelling out who should get vaccinated aren't necessarily in sync, issuing seemingly contradictory recommendations based on age or risk factors for serious disease. But the ambiguity may not affect your coverage, at least this year. 'I think in 2025 it's highly likely that the employer plans will cover' the Covid vaccines, said Dr. Jeff Levin-Scherz, a primary care doctor who is the population health leader for the management consultancy WTW and an assistant professor at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They've already budgeted for it, 'and it would be a large administrative effort to try to exclude coverage for those not at increased risk,' he said. With so much in flux, it's important to check with your employer or insurer about coverage policies before you roll up your sleeve. Here's what we know so far, and what remains unclear. How have the recommendations changed? What used to be straightforward is now much murkier. Last year, the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccines were recommended for anyone at least 6 months old. This year, the recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is narrower. Although the vaccines are broadly recommended for adults 19 and older, they are no longer recommended for healthy pregnant people or for healthy children 6 months through 17 years old. Kennedy announced the changes in a video in May, citing safety risks for young people and pregnant people as justification. But his claims have been widely disputed by experts in vaccines, pediatrics, and women's health. An analysis by found that the secretary 'misrepresented scientific research to make unfounded claims about vaccine safety for pregnant people and children.' In addition, recently announced changes to the vaccine approval framework have further chipped away at eligibility. Moderna announced July 10 that the Food and Drug Administration had fully approved its Spikevax Covid vaccine — but approval is restricted to adults 65 and older, and for people from 6 months through 64 years old who are at increased risk of developing a serious case of Covid. Two other Covid vaccines expected to be available this fall, Novavax's Nuvaxovid and Moderna's mNexspike, are also restricted. They are approved for people 65 or older and those 12 to 64 who have underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of developing severe Covid. Notably, Pfizer's Comirnaty Covid vaccine is still approved or authorized for people 6 months of age and older without any restrictions based on risk factors for Covid — at least for now. But the FDA could change that at any time, experts said. Increasing restrictions 'is definitely the direction they are moving,' said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at KFF who authored a KFF analysis of vaccine insurance coverage rules. KFF is a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. HHS did not provide an on-the-record comment for this article. How might these changes alter my insurance coverage for the vaccine? That's the big question, and the answer is uncertain. Without insurance coverage, people could owe hundreds of dollars for the shot. Most private health plans are required by law to cover recommended vaccines, whether for Covid, measles, or the flu, without charging their members. But that requirement kicks in after the shots are recommended by a federal panel — the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — and adopted by the CDC director, according to the KFF analysis. The committee hasn't yet voted on Covid vaccine recommendations for this fall. Its next meeting is expected to occur in August or September. Still, employers and insurers can opt to cover the vaccines on their own, as many did before the law required them to do so. But they may require people to pay something for it. In addition, the narrower recommendations from different HHS agencies might result in some health plans declining to pay for certain categories of people to get certain vaccines, experts said. 'I don't think an employer or insurer would deny coverage,' Kates said. 'But they could say: You have to get this product.' That could mean a 45-year-old with no underlying health conditions raising their covid risk might have to get the Pfizer shot rather than the Moderna version if they want their health plan to pay for it, experts said. In addition, up to 200 million people may qualify for the vaccines because they have health conditions such as asthma or diabetes that increase their risk of severe disease, according to a commentary published by FDA officials in the New England Journal of Medicine. Health care professionals can help people determine whether they qualify for the shot based on health conditions. Tina Stow, a spokesperson for AHIP, which represents health plans, said in a statement that plans will continue to follow federal requirements for vaccine coverage. What are the options for people who are pregnant or have children they want to have vaccinated? Many parents are confused about getting their kids vaccinated, according to an Aug. 1 KFF poll. About half say they don't know whether federal agencies recommend healthy children get the vaccine this fall. Among the other half, more say the vaccine is not recommended than recommended. Meanwhile, Kennedy's recommendation that healthy children not get vaccinated has a notable caveat: If a parent wishes a child to get a Covid vaccine and a health care provider recommends it, the child can receive it under the 'shared clinical decision-making' model, and it should be covered without cost sharing. Some policy experts point out that this is the way care for kids is typically provided anyway. 'Outside of any requirements, vaccines have always been provided through shared decision-making,' said Amanda Jezek, senior vice president of public policy and government relations at the Infectious Diseases Society of America. There's no similar allowance for pregnant people. However, even though Kennedy has stated that Covid vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy pregnant people, pregnancy is one of the underlying medical conditions that put people at high risk for getting very sick from Covid, according to the CDC. That could make pregnant people eligible for the shot. Depending on the stage of someone's pregnancy, it could be difficult to know whether someone should be denied the shot based on their condition. 'This is uncharted territory,' said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms. How will these changes affect access to the vaccine? Will I still be able to go to the pharmacy for the shot? 'If far fewer are expected to be vaccinated, fewer sites will offer the vaccinations,' Levin-Scherz said. This could be an especially notable hurdle for people looking for pediatric doses of a covid vaccine, he said. In addition, pharmacists' authority to administer vaccines depends on several factors. For example, in some states they can administer shots that have been approved by the FDA, while in others the shots must have been recommended by the ACIP, said Hannah Fish, senior director of strategic initiatives at the National Community Pharmacists Association. Since ACIP hasn't yet recommended covid shots for the fall, that could create a speed bump in some states. 'Depending on the rules, you still may be able to get the shot at the pharmacy, but they might have to call the physician to send over a prescription,' Fish said. What do these changes mean long-term? It's impossible to know. But given Kennedy's vocal skepticism of vaccines and his embrace of long-disproven theories about connections between vaccines and autism, among other things, medical and public health professionals are concerned those views will shape future policies. 'The recommendation changes that were made with respect to children and pregnant women were not necessarily made in good science,' Corlette said. It's already a challenge to convince people they need annual covid shots, and shifting guidelines may make it tougher, some public health experts warn. 'What's concerning is that this could even further depress the uptake of the covid vaccines,' Jezek said. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
