Childhood vaccination rates in Florida continue to decline, part of a national trend as misinformation spreads more widely and hesitancy increases, health experts said.

In the 2023-24 school year, 88.1% of kindergartners completed required vaccines that protect against severe illnesses, including measles, polio and chickenpox, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It’s one of the lowest rates in the nation, and it concerns physicians like Dr. Jennifer Takagishi, vice president of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Florida chapter and a professor at the University of South Florida.