Fewer Florida children are receiving routine vaccinations
Fewer Florida Children are Receiving Routine Vaccinations
High vaccination rates can help prevent the spread of severe illnesses like measles and polio. But pediatricians say they’re encountering more parents hesitant to get their kids immunized.
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.