JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The number of children receiving routine vaccinations in Florida continues to decline, mirroring a national trend.
Florida’s vaccination rate for kindergartners is among the lowest in the country.
Last school year, 88% of kindergarten students in Florida were fully vaccinated against diseases such as measles, chickenpox and polio.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida leads the Southeast in exemptions from vaccine requirements.
Nearly 5% of kindergartners received an exemption, with almost all being for non-medical reasons.
Nationally, the average vaccination rate for kindergarten students dropped to 92.3%, while exemptions for one or more shots rose to 3.3%.
Dr. Jennifer Takagishi, vice president of Florida’s chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, says more parents are concerned about vaccine side effects.
They believe the risks outweigh the benefits, leading to skipping the shots altogether.
She also noted that this trend became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Takagishi emphasizes that high vaccination rates are crucial to maintaining community immunity.
This helps protect those who can’t get vaccinated, such as people with medical issues and young children.
