US childhood vaccination rates fall again as exemptions set new record: reports
The fraction of kids exempted from vaccine requirements rose to 4.1%, up from 3.7% the year before. It's the third record-breaking year in a row for the exemption rate, and the vast majority are parents withholding shots for nonmedical reasons.
Meanwhile, 92.5% of 2024-25 kindergartners got their required measles-mumps-rubella shots, down slightly from the previous year. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccination rate was 95% — the level that makes it unlikely that a single infection will spark a disease cluster or outbreak.
Advertisement
5 U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates inched down again last year, and the share of children with exemptions rose to an all-time high, according to federal data posted Thursday.
AP
The vaccination numbers were posted as the U.S. experiences its worst year for measles spread in more than three decades, with more than 1,300 cases so far.
'The concern, of course, is that with a further dip in the (vaccination) coverage, we're going to see even more measles in the coming months,' said Dr. Sean O'Leary, of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Advertisement
It's possible that this year's outbreaks may spur more parents to get their children vaccinated before they go to school, said O'Leary, a University of Colorado pediatric infectious diseases specialist.
But Dr. Philip Huang isn't optimistic. Texas was particularly hard hit by measles this year, with more than half of the cases reported nationally. Despite that, the state passed a law making it easier for parents to get school vaccine exemptions for their kids.
5 The vaccination numbers were posted as the U.S. experiences its worst year for measles spread in more than three decades, according to reports.
pingpao – stock.adobe.com
'It's crazy,' said Huang, Dallas County's health director.
Advertisement
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention traditionally releases the vaccination coverage data in its flagship publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. CDC officials usually speak to the trends and possible explanations, and stress the importance of vaccinations. This year, the agency quietly posted the data online and — when asked about it — emailed a statement.
'The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. Parents should consult their health care providers on options for their families,' the statement said, adding; '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.'
5 'The concern, of course, is that with a further dip in the (vaccination) coverage, we're going to see even more measles in the coming months,' said Dr. Sean O'Leary, of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
AP
The wording is more ambivalent about the importance of vaccinations than in the past. That is in keeping with communications from the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement, before President Donald Trump put him in charge of federal health agencies.
Advertisement
O'Leary noted the changes in the CDC messaging, which places personal choice before community protection.
'To sort of weaken the language or weaken the messaging that they're sending is very concerning, because what they say does matter,' he said.
Public health officials focus on vaccination rates for kindergartners because schools can be cauldrons for germs and launching pads for community outbreaks.
For years, those rates were high, thanks largely to school attendance mandates that required key vaccinations. All U.S. states and territories require that children attending child care centers and schools be vaccinated against a number of diseases, including measles, mumps, polio, tetanus, whooping cough, and chickenpox.
All states allow exemptions for children with medical conditions that prevent them from receiving certain vaccines. And most also permit exemptions for religious or other non-medical reasons.
In the last decade, the percentage of kindergartners with medical exemptions has held steady, at about 0.2%. But the percentage with nonmedical exemptions has risen.
The rates can be influenced by policies that make it harder or easier to obtain exemptions, and by local attitudes among families and doctors about the need to get children vaccinated.
Advertisement
5 In the last decade, the percentage of kindergartners with medical exemptions has held steady at about 0.2%.
Looker_Studio – stock.adobe.com
5 Public health officials focus on vaccination rates for kindergartners because schools can be cauldrons for germs and launching pads for community outbreaks.
oatautta – stock.adobe.com
Online misinformation and the political divide that emerged around COVID-19 vaccines have led more parents to question routine childhood vaccinations, experts say.
According to the CDC data, 15.4% of kindergartners had an exemption to one or more vaccines in Idaho in the last school year. But fewer than 0.5% did in Connecticut.
Advertisement
It's good news that the vast majority of parents continue to get their kids vaccinated, O'Leary said. And it's noteworthy that there is a gap between the percentage vaccinated and the percentage who are exempted — meaning there likely are unmet access issues, he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Why Do I Get So Many Headaches During the Summer?
Q: I'm always getting headaches during the summer. Why? And what can I do to prevent them? If you've noticed more pain between your temples as the warmer months tick by, it may not be all in your head. Some studies have suggested that hot or humid weather, bright sunlight and summer-related drops in outdoor air pressure can trigger headaches in some people. Migraine sufferers in particular often report being the most affected, said Dr. Danielle Wilhour, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. While there isn't anything you can do to change the weather itself, the good news is that experts say there are some steps you can take to thwart the throbbing before it starts. What the Research Suggests It can be challenging for scientists to study how the outdoor world influences headache frequency, in part because everyone's triggers are different, and not everyone is triggered equally. It's also possible that early migraine symptoms are just associated with, rather than caused by, certain weather changes. As a result, the conclusions of relevant studies have been mixed. In one study published in 2017, for instance, researchers found that warm and humid conditions in North Carolina were associated with more migraine-related emergency department visits compared with other weather patterns. In another study, published in 2023, researchers in Japan used a smartphone app to track self-reported headaches among nearly 4,400 adults — mostly women. After comparing that data with local weather patterns, they found that headaches were more common in humid weather, but not in the heat. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Six More States Ban Junk Food From SNAP Benefits
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Six more states have banned junk food purchases from being bought with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced. West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas have all had new waivers approved that allow each state to modify what can and can't be bought using food benefits. Across all of these states, the change will impact approximately 8.5 million people. It brings the total number of states banning junk purchases to 12, following similar waiver approvals earlier this year for Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah. Why It Matters SNAP benefits, also known as "food stamps," are paid to low- and no-income households across the U.S. that would otherwise struggle to afford groceries. Across the country, more than 40 million people receive the allowance. A customer shops for produce at an H-E-B grocery store on February 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. A customer shops for produce at an H-E-B grocery store on February 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/GETTY What To Know A waiver grants flexibility by modifying specific USDA program rules, enabling states to administer the SNAP program in different ways. Various states currently have SNAP waivers in place, and they were widely implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to help Americans get better access to food benefits. The new waivers, while different for each state, mean that starting in 2026 certain types of foods can no longer be bought using electronic benefit transfer cards, which are loaded every month with payments to spend in participating grocery providers across the country. Junk food generally refers to foods that have lots of calories, particularly those high in macronutrients such as sugar and fat, but little nutritional value. In Texas, the ban will cover soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts, while in Louisiana, soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy will be banned. Some of the waivers are less restrictive: in Colorado and West Virginia, only soft drinks will no longer be eligible for purchase. The push to tighten rules around unhealthy purchases has been led by Republican states, with Colorado being the only Democratic state to join the throng. Proponents of limiting SNAP purchases have argued removing unhealthy foods from the program will improve health outcomes, while others have argued that it controls how America's poorest eat and fails to address wider problems regarding access to affordable, healthy food. What People Are Saying Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy: "For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy—products that fuel America's diabetes and chronic disease epidemics. "These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health. I thank the governors who have stepped up to request waivers, and I encourage others to follow their lead. This is how we Make America Healthy Again." Texas Governor Greg Abbott: "To ensure the health and well-being of Texans, we must promote better, healthier food habits. Earlier this year, I requested a waiver from the USDA to ensure SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase junk food. "I applaud [Agriculture] Secretary [Brooke L.] Rollins and the Trump Administration for their approval of this waiver to support and promote healthy eating habits. The state of Texas will continue to consider innovative ways for Texans to lead healthy and productive lives." Kavelle Christie, a health policy and advocacy expert and director at the Center for Regulatory Policy and Health Innovation, previously told Newsweek: "The issue isn't about individuals misusing their benefits, but their limited choices. In many rural areas and food deserts, convenience stores and fast-food chains are often the only available options. "For many families, fresh produce and healthy meals are luxuries that are unattainable, not because they do not want these foods, but because they are unavailable or too expensive." A food desert refers to an area, usually a low-income community, where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables. What Happens Next Each of the waivers will go into effect in 2026, meaning there will be no immediate changes for SNAP beneficiaries across the impacted states for now. Most come into effect early next year.
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Congress should reauthorize Hospital-at-Home
Advertisement Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up The Congressional Budget Office scored the Hospital-at-Home Program as Advertisement But these programs are at risk if Congress doesn't act. That's because the at-home experiment was only possible because in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a waiver requiring Medicare to reimburse for Hospital-at-Home care at the same rate as inpatient care. The waiver also let states reimburse via Medicaid, and Massachusetts is one of around a dozen states where Medicaid pays the same rate for at-home and inpatient care, according to the American Hospital Association. The waiver was extended in 2022 and 2024. Federal regulators have approved Hospital-at-Home programs Now, though, the waiver is set to expire Sept. 30, unless Congress approves a Constantinos Michaelidis, medical director of Hospital at Home at UMass Memorial Health, said UMass started the program in August 2021 when patients were waiting hours for a hospital bed. Since then, around 3,600 patients have been cared for at home after presenting at one of three hospitals. According to data provided by UMass Memorial, compared to patients using its brick-and-mortar hospitals, Hospital-at-Home patients had 60 to 70 percent lower mortality, 15 to 30 percent higher patient satisfaction, 5 to 15 percent fewer readmissions, and 80 to 90 percent fewer transfers to skilled nursing facilities after discharge. Michaelidis said he wants to eventually offer Hospital-at-Home throughout the system, and a five-year extension would provide the financial certainty to expand. 'These programs take a lot of money to get off the ground,' Michaelidis said. 'We need Congress to make sure if we spend $3 million expanding the program, it won't go away in two months.' Advertisement A similar calculation is underway at Beth Israel Lahey Health, which started offering Hospital-at-Home in August 2023 at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center. The program has grown gradually, as specialists in different fields established protocols for who can be served at home. It now admits around 100 patients a month, and the hospital recently started offering physical therapy virtually to at-home patients. Sue Stempek, vice president of BILH Hospital at Home, said the system is considering expanding the program to additional hospitals, and a long-term waiver would allow for growth and for research studies to evaluate the model's effectiveness. An open question is the cost impact. Today in Massachusetts, some commercial insurers pay inpatient rates; some pay less. Lora Pellegrini, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, said some insurers balk at paying inpatient rates when home care doesn't have the same overhead costs. But hospital officials say start-up costs are hefty for staff, equipment, and technology. South Shore Health closed its Hospital-at-Home program May 17, after 11 months. Chief of Medicine Jason Tracy said participants loved the program. But it took time for patients and clinicians to adjust to the idea, and when serving only five or six patients a day, the program lost millions of dollars. 'In this environment, you have to put your resources toward stronger financially performing programs that have greater patient demand,' Tracy said. There are efficiencies in bigger hospital systems. Mass General Brigham has treated over 7,000 patients since January 2022 in Hospital-at-Home programs run through five hospitals. The health system saved 35,000 'bed days,' a measure of how many days inpatient beds would have been filled by those patients. Advertisement Heather O'Sullivan, MGB's president of Healthcare at Home, said the program has expanded to new patient populations — like those in post-operative recovery — and the federal waiver lets the hospital scale up knowing it can recoup costs. Without the waiver, O'Sullivan worried that all but the largest health systems would be unable to make those investments. Congress should also ask federal regulators to study the costs associated with Hospital-at-Home, to determine whether insurance should continue to pay the same as for inpatient care or whether home hospital can achieve cost savings. The need to study costs shouldn't prevent Congress from reauthorizing the waiver for five years, though. Hospital-at-Home provides the care patients want with improved health outcomes, while preserving beds for patients who need inpatient care. That's a win-win-win. Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us
