Oregon vaccine exemptions hit 12-year high
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The rate of exemptions from one or more vaccines among kindergartners in Oregon continues to trend upward, hitting a 12-year high last school year.
Why it matters: The rise in exemptions comes as Health Department Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has questioned the safety and efficacy of vaccines for common diseases like measles and whooping cough.
By the numbers: The rate of exemptions in Oregon has fluctuated over the last dozen years — from a low of 5.9% in 2012 to 8.9% in the 2023-24 school year to 9.8% last school year.
- That's nearly triple the national average of 3.6%.
Zoom in: Health authorities in Oregon confirmed the state's first measles case of the year last month.
- In 2024, Oregon also saw more than 1,100 cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough — the most since 1950.
Between the lines: Oregon is one of 15 states that allow exemptions for school children whose parents philosophically object to immunizations.