Vaccination rates based on CDC-recommended immunizations have historically been very high in the U.S., but they took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic when millions of children missed their usual in-person well-child visits. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has been helping pediatricians and family physicians catch those children up, childhood vaccine hesitancy that has spilled over from COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has slowed that catch-up, including uptake on measles-mumps-rubella vaccines.
The MMWR report from October 2024 on U.S. kindergarteners vaccination and vaccine exemption rates reveals the combined impact of missed well-child visits during the pandemic and pandemic-enhanced vaccine hesitancy. Coverage for all vaccines fell below 93%, two points below the 95% rate seen prior to the pandemic.
Vaccine exemption rates increased to 3.3% from 3% the previous year. In 14 jurisdictions, the exemption rates — which enable children to attend public school without receiving all recommended vaccines — exceed 5%.