Record High Vaccine Exemptions Among Oregon Kindergarteners Prompt Concerns
Published: May 16, 2025
Oregon is witnessing a troubling rise in nonmedical vaccine exemptions among kindergarteners, with nearly 10% opting out of required vaccinations for the 2024-25 school year. The latest data from the Oregon Health Authority indicates that 9.7% of kindergartners received nonmedical exemptions, marking the highest rate in state history and up from 8.8% the previous year. This trend places Oregon fourth in the nation for nonmedical exemptions behind Idaho, Alaska, and Utah.
The state’s vaccination laws stipulate that children must be immunized or possess a valid medical or nonmedical exemption to enroll in public and private educational institutions. Unlike many states that only permit exemptions for medical or religious reasons, Oregon allows exemptions based on personal beliefs, which has contributed to the rising exemption rates.
Vaccinations are crucial for public health, protecting against diseases such as measles, polio, and mumps. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maintaining high vaccination rates is essential to safeguarding not only individual children but also those unable to receive vaccines due to age or health conditions.
Despite these alarming statistics for kindergarteners, the majority of Oregon K-12 students, approximately 90.4%, remain fully vaccinated. Oregon Immunization Program officials emphasize the importance of equitable vaccine access for all children, checking immunization records annually.
Medical experts, including Dr. Paul Cieslak of the Oregon Health Authority, have expressed concerns about the implications of increasing exemption rates, warning that they undermine community immunity and could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases. Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist, highlighted the critical role vaccines play in public health, urging families to prioritize vaccination to maintain the progress achieved in disease control.
As the exemption trend continues, public health officials remain committed to providing families with accurate, science-based information to encourage vaccinations.
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