What parents should know: Kindergarten vaccination rates decline across U.S. as exemptions reach record high

As parents are preparing for their children to go back to school, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a national decline in kindergarten vaccination rates for the 2024-2025 school year. At the same time, the number of exemptions filed for vaccinations has reached an all-time high.

National Vaccination Coverage Among Children Drops

According to CDC data, vaccination coverage among kindergarteners fell for all required vaccines, including diphtheria, tetanus, and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella).

Oklahoma's Current Vaccination Rates

Oklahoma kindergarteners are required to have a set of immunizations to attend school, childcare and Head Start; However, data from the CDC shows:

1. 88.7% of Oklahoma kindergarteners are up to date on their MMR vaccinations.
2. 11.3% are not up to date on MMR vaccinations.
3. 5.7% are exempt from one or more vaccines.

State Laws Allow for Exemptions

Oklahoma is one of the states that allows exemptions from immunizations for religious or personal reasons. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, documentation of immunizations or an exemption form is required before a child can attend public school, childcare facilities, or Head Start programs.

Required Vaccinations for Oklahoma Schools (2025–2026)

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the following immunizations are required for children in kindergarten through sixth grade:

1. 5 doses of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
2. 2 doses of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
3. 1 dose of Varicella (chickenpox)
4. 4 doses of Polio
5. 2 doses of Hepatitis A
6. 3 doses of Hepatitis B

Why Are Vaccination Rates Dropping?

Dr. Sarah Elneser, Utica Park Clinic, attributes the decline to several factors, including social media influence and lasting effects from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think there are several contributing factors to the decline of kindergarten vaccinations in our state,” Elneser said. “Media, TikTok, Facebook, personal vlogs, but not to mention you know the recent pandemic that we had to deal with. That caused a lot of patient-provider questions and sometimes mistrust for those who didn’t feel like they were getting honest answers.”

She warned that lower vaccination rates increase the risk of disease outbreaks, particularly for illnesses that have been rare in recent decades.

“The spread of diseases that we have beaten out, we have stamped out that come with much more dire consequences than the common cold or strep throat,” Elneser said. “We are talking things like hearing loss, seizures, loss of certain limbs in some diseases and that rapid spread as immunization declines.”

The Role of Herd Immunity

Dr. Elneser also emphasized the importance of herd immunity:

“Herd immunity is a process where we have a large enough group of people that are vaccinated,” Elneser said. “So, we tend to think we are going to be in a safe situation because it won’t spread as fast. It won’t spread as far. The problem is with the more the vaccination rate declines, the less herd immunity we have, and I think a lot of people like to try to depend on that and we are going to see that shrink.”

Schools Still Enforce State Law

At Broken Arrow Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent Derek Blackburn said the district works closely with families.

“We are really a partner for our families,” Blackburn said. “We don’t want this to be an adverse situation, but we are required by law to request either the immunization component or the exemption.”

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1. How Broken Arrow Schools are helping students face back-to-school anxiety

What’s Next?

With back-to-school season in full swing, pediatricians are seeing a surge in appointments for physicals.

Dr. Elneser encourages families to have open conversations with their healthcare providers and make informed choices.

“You just have to decide what’s right for you and your family, and what you are willing to risk,” Elneser said.