Vaccine exemptions rise among Clark County kids, mirroring national trends

Vaccine exemptions have risen in Clark County, mimicking countrywide trends that health officials say have a worrisome impact.

Vaccination rates among kindergartners have dipped across the United States as exemptions have risen, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published on Wednesday. During the 2022-23 school year, 4 percent of kindergartners received exemptions across Washington, which jumped to 4.8 percent in 2024, according to data from the Washington State Department of Health.

For the 2023-24 school year, the share of kindergartners in Clark County exempt from vaccine requirements rose to 8.9 percent, up from 8.6 percent the year before. Of those exemptions during the 2023-24 school year, 6.8 percent were attributed to religious reasons, 2.6 percent were for personal reasons and 0.6 percent were for medical reasons.

“One of the best ways to protect yourself and those around you from vaccine-preventable diseases is to keep your immunizations up to date,” Clark County Public Health said on its website. “Getting vaccinated can reduce your chances of getting infected and can prevent severe illness and death.”

Statewide, 87.6 percent of kindergartners were vaccinated during the 2023-24 school year, no change from the previous year. During the 2023-24 school year, 86.3 percent of kindergartners were vaccinated across Clark County, up from 85.6 percent the previous year.

Across the United States, 92.7 percent of kindergartners got their required shots, but before the COVID-19 pandemic the vaccination rate was 95 percent. The changes may seem small, but those numbers translate to about 80,000 kids not getting vaccinated, according to the Associated Press.

Clark County Public Health provides information about where to receive low- or no-cost vaccines on its website. For the latest recommendations for vaccinations that protect against respiratory illnesses, visit cdc.gov.