New CDC data from last school year shows Oklahoma kindergartens are seeing more students with vaccine exemptions. Most were non-medical, representing 7.2% of Oklahoma kindergartners.
That’s about a 33% increase from the previous year.
Oklahoma is one of 16 states that allow exemptions for either religious or personal reasons. Only 0.2% of Oklahoma kindergartners received a medical exemption.
Oklahoma’s total exemption rate of 7.4% of kindergartners is significantly higher than the national rate of 4.2%, which also grew by 17% from the previous year.
“The increase has occurred across the country,” said Dr. Steven Crawford, chair of the board of the Oklahoma Alliance for Healthy Families. “But, unfortunately, Oklahoma seems to be one of the leaders.”
Crawford said vaccine hesitancy has grown significantly following the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledged the fear and uncertainty it created. But he said he is concerned about communities losing the immunity levels necessary to protect against highly contagious illnesses, like measles, where vaccine coverage of at least 95% is recommended.
“Because not everyone can get vaccinated on time, for medical reasons, or logistical reasons,” Crawford said.
All vaccines included in the CDC report saw a decline in coverage among kindergartners in Oklahoma. But this varied among different immunizations.
For example, students have better coverage for vaccines that help prevent chickenpox and hepatitis B at around 93%. Coverage for the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, is sitting around 87.8%.
The U.S. has recorded more measles cases this year than in any other year since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000. Oklahoma has reported one confirmed case this year.
This data comes only a week after President Donald Trump issued an executive order, calling on U.S. children to receive fewer routine vaccines. The order can’t legally change the current recommended childhood immunization schedule.
It echoed the administration’s previous efforts to shift six vaccinations – including shots against the flu and COVID-19 – from remaining universally recommended to being based on shared clinical decision-making. That would mean families and providers would discuss individual risks and health circumstances before deciding whether a child should get an immunization. A federal judge blocked this change.
The order also calls for splitting the MMR vaccine into three shots and administering childhood immunizations in separate medical visits.
Decades of evidence point to the MMR vaccine’s safety and effectiveness as administered. Individual vaccines would need to be tested in the U.S. before they could be offered, Crawford said.
“It's not going to happen tomorrow, it's not going to happen in one year – it would take probably a minimum of five years – and that's from the date that they make a decision to make a separated vaccine,” Crawford said. “And I don't think any company is going to jump on that right away.”
Gov. Kevin Stitt spoke in favor of the executive order in a social media post, thanking Trump for “bringing greater clarity and transparency to vaccine recommendations.” He touted one of his executive orders from Jan. 30, which directed “a comprehensive review of state health policies to safeguard medical freedom, informed consent, and parental rights for all Oklahomans.”
“We’ll continue leading on this issue and ensuring Oklahoma families have the information they need to make the best decisions for their children,” Stitt wrote.
Crawford argued that freedom comes with a responsibility to protect others.
“The problem is, giving parents the freedom also doesn't give parents the freedom, [if] their child is susceptible to a disease, that they can go out and feel assured that child won't get seriously ill from those preventable diseases,” Crawford said.
Crawford recommended parents seek out sources like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, or their family physician if they have questions about immunizations.
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