The percentage of U.S. kindergartners receiving standard childhood vaccines has dropped slightly during the 2021-2022 school year. Health officials are concerned about this trend, with coverage decreasing from 95% in 2019-2020 to 93% in 2021-2022. The decrease in vaccination rates could leave more children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable conditions and lead to outbreaks. The drop in rates may be due to pandemic-related disruptions in medical visits and in-person schooling, as well as anti-vaccine sentiment. Health officials recommend enforcing vaccination requirements, starting school-based vaccine clinics, and following up with unvaccinated students and their families to improve vaccine uptake.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dip in U.S. kindergartners receiving vaccines | Decrease in vaccine coverage | Increased vulnerability to outbreaks | Anti-vaccine sentiment |
| Drop in vaccination rates during pandemic | Decrease in vaccination coverage among certain groups | Health disparities in vaccination rates | Pandemic-related interruptions |
| Increase in anti-vaccine sentiment | Resistance to vaccine requirements | Opposition to public school vaccine requirements | Inflamed by Covid-19 pandemic |
| Delay in documentation for vaccine requirements | Lack of proof of vaccination or exemption | Need for improved record-keeping systems | Pandemic-related disruptions and grace period |
| Recommendations for school-based vaccine clinics | Implementation of school-based vaccination clinics | Increased accessibility to vaccines | Improving vaccine uptake and coverage in schools |