Childhood vaccination rates are slipping in several states, a troubling trend that could threaten public health. Once regarded as public health successes, states like Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia are now seeing a rise in the number of parents opting out of vaccinating their children, experts warn.
Jen Fisher, a mother in Franklin, Tennessee, expressed concern about the growing number of vaccine exemptions. Her 12-year-old son Raleigh, who has a congenital heart condition and a weakened immune system, relies on herd immunity to stay protected from diseases like measles. Even though Raleigh has received all recommended vaccines, Fisher knows that for him to stay safe, others in his community must also be vaccinated.
“We want everyone to be vaccinated so that illnesses like measles don’t come back,” Fisher said. “They can have a very adverse effect on Raleigh.”
Despite being in one of the states with the highest vaccination rates in the country, Fisher’s concerns reflect a broader, worrying trend. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the percentage of kindergartners exempted from one or more vaccines has risen to an all-time high of 3.3%, with increases in 40 states and Washington, D.C.
Mississippi and West Virginia, which had historically high vaccination rates, have also seen increases in exemptions. These states, traditionally known for their poor health outcomes, defy the stereotype, as their high vaccination rates have long been seen as public health bright spots.
However, as vaccine exemptions grow, particularly for non-medical reasons, experts fear that vaccine-preventable diseases like measles could make a comeback. Pediatricians in states like Florida and Georgia have expressed alarm at the rising exemption rates. For example, Florida’s measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage dropped from 93.5% in 2019-20 to just 88.1% in the 2023-24 school year.
Dr. Brandon Chatani, a pediatric infectious disease doctor in Orlando, Florida, attributed the drop to the widespread acceptance of religious exemptions, which make it easier for parents to send unvaccinated children to school.
The decline in vaccination rates can be partially attributed to the growing influence of anti-vaccine messaging, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The “health freedom” movement, advocating for personal choice, has gained momentum in conservative states, leading to an increase in religious and personal belief exemptions.
Pediatricians worry that these trends, if left unchecked, could lead to the resurgence of diseases that were once largely eradicated in the U.S., like polio and whooping cough. In Georgia, public health officials recently reported a significant uptick in whooping cough cases, highlighting the risk posed by falling immunization rates.
As of 2023, Mississippi was among the last states to allow exemptions for medical reasons only. However, a federal judge’s ruling in April 2023 requiring the state to allow religious exemptions has led to a sharp rise in vaccine hesitancy. In just a few months, more than 5,000 religious exemptions were granted, and many families are increasingly skeptical of vaccines.
Health experts like Dr. Anita Henderson, a pediatrician in Mississippi, are concerned that skepticism will continue to spread, making it harder to maintain the high vaccination rates the state once boasted.
Ultimately, experts warn that rising vaccine hesitancy could pave the way for preventable outbreaks. Dr. Matthew Christiansen, former health officer in West Virginia, emphasized the impact that unvaccinated children could have on others. “Children getting measles, mumps, and polio… are an impediment to personal freedom and autonomy,” he said.
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