Strict School Vaccine Mandates Work
When states prohibit parents from opting their children out of vaccines for religious, philosophical, or other nonmedical reasons, communities remain better protected against infectious diseases.
Key Findings from Recent Study
Between 2015 and 2021, four states—California, New York, Maine, and Connecticut—stopped allowing parents to opt their children out of routine vaccinations without medical reasons. This change led to a substantial increase in vaccination rates among kindergartners, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Vaccination Requirements
- All states mandate vaccinations for children entering kindergarten against diseases like measles and polio.
- Medical exemptions are allowed for cases such as severe allergies to vaccine ingredients.
- Most states previously allowed nonmedical exemptions based on religious or philosophical beliefs.
Study Data and Results
The study analyzed data from approximately 2.8 million kindergartners across multiple states from 2011 to 2023. After the elimination of nonmedical exemptions, exemption rates dropped by an average of 3.2 percentage points within three years in these four states. This change meant tens of thousands more children were protected from infectious diseases such as measles.
Vaccines Included in the Study
- Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis
- Hepatitis B
- Measles-mumps-rubella
- Polio
“In those states, exemption rates fell by 3.2 percentage points on average within three years – meaning tens of thousands more children gained protection against diseases like measles.”
Author’s summary: Strict school vaccine mandates that remove nonmedical exemptions effectively increase vaccination rates and improve community protection against infectious diseases.