The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data on kindergarten vaccination rates for 2022-2023 indicates a concerning trend showing low vaccination uptake for vital vaccines such as chickenpox (varicella), poliovirus, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP), and measles, mumps, and rubella.
This trend goes against the US government's expectations and low vaccine rates may lead to disease outbreaks, exposing the country to severe illnesses and potentially fatal consequences, according to CNN.
In the academic years starting from 2019-20 to 2021-22, the immunization rates for these important vaccines dipped below 95%, settling around 93% in the recent school year. This declining trend continued in 2022-2023, with approximately 93% of students reported immunized for MMR and poliovirus (recorded at 93.1%) and DTaP at 92.7 percent.
Josette Thomas, a school nurse, gave a child an immunization shot on August 8, 2007, in Hialeah, Florida.
A Grave Concern Among US Children
The rising number of vaccination exemptions among kindergarteners is particularly troubling as it has reached an unprecedented high in US history. In the academic year 2022-2023, there was an increase from 2.6% to 3% in the percentage of students excused from state-required inoculations compared to the previous year.
In 40 states and Washington, DC, exemptions increased. Exemption rates exceeding five percent have been documented in 10 US states, a threshold that dramatically increases the likelihood of vaccine-preventable illness epidemics.
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As quoted by the US News & World Report, the CDC noted in a report summary: "Due to the concern that clusters of under-vaccinated children can increase the risk for disease outbreaks, it's important that immunization programs, schools, and clinicians ensure children are fully vaccinated before school entry or, if necessary, before provisional enrollment periods expire."
Vaccination Efforts Must Catch Up To Prevent Dire Consequences
In light of the possibility of outbreaks caused by groups of under-vaccinated children, the study stressed how crucial it is to make sure kids are properly immunized before starting school. Experts point out that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated vaccine reluctance, which is why there has been an increase in non-medical exemptions. However, the CDC was unable to determine whether this was a result of rising anti-vaccine sentiment or other factors, according to CBS News.
Although regular vaccination services have improved globally, with 20.5 million children missing one or more shots in 2022 (compared to 24.4 million in 2021), challenges still exist. The need for continuous efforts towards catch-up, recovery, and system strengthening is underscored in order to tackle the consequences of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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