Many states are reporting an increase of people opting out of vaccines for their children.
During the 2023-24 school year, the percentage of kindergartners exempted from one or more vaccinations rose to 3.3%, the highest ever reported, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
Nearly all exemptions were for nonmedical reasons.
According to a 2024 survey by the CDC, 8.3% of U.S. parents disagreed that school and child care vaccination requirements were important and necessary.
Faculty experts at the George Washington University are available to discuss this issue. To schedule an interview with an expert, please contact Katelyn Deckelbaum at [email protected].
Adriana Glenn is an assistant professor in the GW School of Nursing. She has 30 years of experience as a family nurse practitioner.
Emily Smith, is an associate professor of global health and an expert in infectious diseases and epidemiology, at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health.
Monika Goyal is an associate professor of pediatrics at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Ashley Darcy-Mahoney is a neonatal nurse practitioner, researcher, and educator. Throughout her career, she has been at the forefront of advancing nursing research, education, and practice, with a specific focus on neonatology, infant health, and developmental pediatrics.
-GW-