California kindergarteners had one the nation's lowest rates of vaccine exemptions as of 2022, according to CDC data.

What's happening: Just 0.2% of kindergartners across California were granted exemptions for required vaccines as of the end of the 2022 school year, compared to 2.6% in 2012, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report.

Why it matters: Vaccinations reduce the spread of childhood illnesses — some potentially fatal — that once plagued the country, such as polio.

• While children are generally required to get a number of vaccinations before attending public school, exemptions can be granted for both medical and nonmedical reasons (such as religious or moral objections), depending on local rules.

Between the lines: The state fell below the U.S. median (1.9%) in 2016 after California schools stopped granting vaccine exemptions for religious or other personal beliefs as part of legislation passed the year before.

• The law came in response to a 2014 measles outbreak at Disneyland, in which the majority of patients were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, according to the CDC.
• The bill was sponsored by then-Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, a San Diego Democrat who became the first woman and first person of color to lead the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.

Zoom in: After that law went into effect, use of medical exemptions to avoid vaccines rose statewide, including a small, niche group of San Diego doctors.

The big picture: The nationwide median kindergarten vaccine-exemption rate was rising even before the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing from 1.4% in 2012 to 2.6% in 2019.

Go deeper

The U.S. Women's National Team will play Colombia in San Diego this fall in an international friendly on the heels of a historic 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Driving the news: The teams are set to face off on Oct. 29 at 5:30pm at Snapdragon Stadium, the home field for USWNT and San Diego Wave FC stars Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma.

• Of note: Team USA has played eight games in San Diego over the years, but this will be the first at Snapdragon.

Why it matters: The game is part of a lineup of international soccer matches Snapdragon Stadium has hosted this year, further solidifying its standing as a soccer destination.

• Snapdragon also secured the National Women's Soccer League Championship slated for November.

State of play: The former world champion U.S. women are coming off a disappointing run at the 2023 FIFA World Cup, which ended with a loss in the round of 16 and the resignation of their head coach.

• Meanwhile, Colombia made history winning its group and first-ever knockout match that sent the team to the quarterfinals.

The intrigue: The October game will serve as preparation for both teams who have already qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France.

Zoom out

🌭 Local charities staff many concession stands at Petco Park — in exchange, they keep about 10% of the take. But it turns out the charity that operates the most stands in the park doesn't exist — and hasn't since 2014. (Voice of San Diego)

🏈 Year two at Snapdragon Stadium got off to a rocky start attendance-wise, with SDSU football's game against Ohio drawing a small crowd and season ticket sales dropping to about 10,000 after crossing 15,000 last year. (Union-Tribune)

🏖️ Paradise Point Resort on Mission Bay could face a $1 million fine over the California Coastal Commission's allegation that the resort is restricting public access to the coast, a beach next to the resort and parking. (NBC 7)

El Cajon has gone where many, many San Diego cities have been before.

Driving the news: The El Cajon Police Department in July installed license plate readers to find stolen cars and solve crimes, the Union-Tribune reports. But the co-author of 2015's SB 34 said the department's practice of sharing data with out-of-state agencies violates California privacy law.

• Department officials didn't specify why they consider the practice lawful. They said the cameras are solving crimes and told the UT their data can't be used for immigration enforcement or investigating anyone seeking reproductive health care in the state.

Flashback: Other area cities have run into similar issues with sharing data collected by license plate readers.

• The San Diego Police Department, in 2018, was distributing its data all over the country, including with Border Patrol, Voice of San Diego reported. The city last year passed a surveillance ordinance regulating its adoption of technologies and how it shares data.
• In 2020, the UT reported that Chula Vista shared license plate data with immigration officials and other agencies. The police chief said she didn't know it was happening.
• Carlsbad, Oceanside, La Mesa, Coronado and Escondido were also sharing data with out-of-state agencies, inewsource reported in early 2022.

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👋 Kate here.

I recently asked where to celebrate Taco Tuesday, and you all delivered.

Check out these reader recommendations for tasty taco shops:

• Get discounted street tacos at Gaslamp's The Smoking Gun. Today is the last day to try their nostalgic, Taco Bell-inspired menu.
• Duck Dive in Pacific Beach offers specials on tacos and tequila from 6pm to close.
• Go to Sandbar in Mission Beach for street, beach and TKO-style tacos from 6pm to close.
• Craft Coast in Oceanside offers handcrafted beer and baja-style fish tacos every day.

💭Kate's thought bubble: My favorite Baja fish tacos are at Fish 101 in Encinitas or Cardiff.

💭 Andy's thought bubble: My go-to neighborhood spot is the La 57 truck in South Park, but if I'm driving, TJ Oyster Bar is still the best around for my money.

🗣️ Tell us where to find the best tacos (and deals) in San Diego!