Vaccine Exemptions for Kids Are on the Rise

The ongoing measles outbreak—the largest since 2019—threatens unvaccinated children across the U.S., where the rise of nonmedical vaccine exemptions in kindergartners has widened gaps in immunity to the disease. 

  1. During and after the Covid-19 pandemic, disruptions to health services and circulation of vaccine misinformation in digital media have contributed to decreased confidence in vaccines nation-wide, leading parents to delay or skip vaccines for their children. 

  2. Since January 2025, the United States has confirmed more than 1,000 cases of measles and three deaths due to complications resulting from the infection. Nearly three-fourths of these cases are in Texas, with neighboring states, including New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas, reporting cases, as well. The measles cases in Texas have also been linked to outbreaks in Mexico and Canada. 

  3. The transmission of disease across international borders underscores the importance of strengthening immunization programsat home and abroad to ensure the effective delivery of vaccines to populations that need them. Empowering trusted local caregivers, leaders, and institutions to provide accurate information about vaccines and disease prevention and by offering immunizations in venues beyond the clinical setting, such as schools, groceries, or community centers, can help build demand and increase confidence in disease-preventing products.

CSIS Charts is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).

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Priya Chainani

Priya Chainani

Program Coordinator and Research Assistant, Global Health Policy Center
Katherine E. Bliss

Katherine E. Bliss

Senior Fellow and Director, Immunizations and Health Systems Resilience, Global Health Policy Center

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