Vaccine Exemptions Rise Among U.S. Kindergartners

Vaccination exemption rates among kindergartners in the U.S. have risen to 3.3% for the 2023-24 school year, marking the highest level ever reported and reflecting a growing trend of vaccine skepticism amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Virginia, vaccine exemptions have quadrupled over the past decade, with 2.4% of kindergarteners exempt from vaccinations this year, primarily for religious reasons. Concurrently, Republican lawmakers in West Virginia plan to introduce legislation that would ease exemptions to the state's stringent vaccine requirements, amid expectations of passing such measures more easily due to a favorable political landscape. As vaccination rates decline, experts warn of potential outbreaks of preventable diseases, with overall kindergarten vaccination coverage falling below the critical 95% threshold. Reports indicate that states like Oregon have exemption rates exceeding the national average, highlighting a troubling trend across the country. The situation is exacerbated by the anticipated appointment of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the incoming Trump administration, which could further fuel public distrust in vaccinations.