Vaccine Rates Falling: A New Worry for Parents

Once a shining example, Tennessee's high childhood vaccination rates are now slipping. Parents like Jen Fisher in Franklin, Tennessee, are feeling the heat. Her 12-year-old son, Raleigh, has a weak immune system due to a congenital heart condition. Vaccines are his best protection against serious illnesses. But now, more kids are skipping shots, and that's a big concern. Mississippi and West Virginia, also conservative states with poor health stats, used to have great vaccine rates. But things are changing. More parents are choosing to opt out of vaccines for their kids. Why? Some say it's because of shifting views and anti-vaccine messages. The numbers show it. During the 2023-24 school year, the highest rate of kids exempted from vaccines was reported – 3. 3%. That's a record high, with increases in 40 states and Washington, D. C. Tennessee and Mississippi were among them. Most exemptions were nonmedical. Experts worry this could fuel a growing "health freedom" movement. Some states, like Florida, are pushing this idea. With Donald Trump's presidency and his possible pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary, anti-vaccine sentiment might grow stronger. Pediatricians in states with high exemption rates are seeing a problem. Kindergarten immunization levels are dropping, which could lead to a comeback of diseases like measles. In Florida, nonmedical exemptions reached 50% in some areas. Getting a religious exemption is easier than a medical one in many states. Some states, like California and New York, have removed nonmedical exemptions. But states like Idaho, Alaska, and Utah still have high exemption rates. They allow parents to exempt their kids with a signed form or notarized statement. Georgia and Florida have some of the lowest vaccine rates for kindergartners. They allow parents to opt out by submitting a form with the school. Both states saw drops in the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine uptake. In Georgia, MMR coverage for kindergartners dropped from 93. 1% to 88. 4% between 2019-20 and 2023-24. Florida dropped from 93. 5% to 88. 1% during the same period. Doctors in these states blame lack of access to pediatricians and state policies on exemptions. They say data shows higher vaccination rates when nonmedical exemptions aren't allowed. Mississippi used to be strict, allowing only medical exemptions. That gave it high vaccine rates. But a court ruling in April 2023 changed that, allowing religious exemptions. Since then, over 5, 000 requests have been granted. West Virginia might also change its vaccine law. A bill to broaden exemptions failed last year, but the new governor, Pat Morrisey, is against vaccine mandates. Anti-vaccine sentiments grew after the Covid pandemic. Some groups are even calling for the resignation of health officials. Pro-vaccine groups worry about kids' health and freedom being curbed by vaccine refusals. Vaccines are victims of their own success. People forget how dangerous diseases like measles and polio are because they haven't seen outbreaks. But doctors hope it doesn't come to that.