January 21, 2021

Vaccination Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten — United States, 2019–20 School Year

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

Keywords (Tags): public health

National vaccination coverage among US kindergarteners was high for the 2019-20 school year, despite most schools shifting to virtual learning in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination coverage for state-required number of doses of DTaP, MMR, and varicella (chickenpox) was 94.9%, 95.2%, and 94.8%, respectively. The exemption rate was 2.5%, and only 2.3% were not up-to-date for MMR and without vaccine exemptions. However, CDC authors caution that disruptions caused by the pandemic are likely to reduce vaccination coverage for the 2020-21 school year.

Seither et al. (Jan 22, 2021). Vaccination Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten — United States, 2019–20 School Year. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7003a2