Oregon Kindergartners’ Nonmedical Vaccine Exemptions Hit Record High

BEND, Ore. — Nonmedical vaccine exemptions among Oregon kindergartners reached a record 9.7% for the 2024-2025 school year, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). This marks an increase from 8.8% in the previous school year, ranking Oregon fourth highest in the United States for nonmedical exemptions, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.

Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA, raised concerns about the implications of this increase. “The increase in nonmedical exemptions weakens community immunity, creating opportunities for outbreaks of serious diseases that vaccines have nearly eradicated,” he stated.

Despite this rise in exemptions, vaccination rates slightly declined as well. Approximately 86.3% of Oregon’s kindergartners were fully vaccinated with the required immunizations, down from 86.4% the prior year, marking the third consecutive year of decline.

Stacy de Assis Matthews, school immunization coordinator at the Oregon Immunization Program, emphasized the importance of vaccination. “An immunized community is our most effective defense against diseases such as measles,” she said. “Robust vaccination coverage not only protects individual children but also safeguards those who cannot be vaccinated due to age, medical conditions, or other vulnerabilities.”

The OHA reported that among the more than 1,000 cases of measles in the U.S. as of May 8, 2025, 96% were among unvaccinated individuals. Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA, warned that the trend of increasing nonmedical exemptions jeopardizes public health progress. “Vaccines have transformed public health by dramatically reducing the burden of infectious diseases,” he explained.

While the vaccination rate among kindergartners has fallen, the overall rate for K-12 students in Oregon remains higher at 90.4%. In Marion County, 86.7% finished all required vaccines in 2025, while Polk County and Lane County reported 86.9% and 88.8% completion rates, respectively.

OHA is actively working to address decreasing vaccination rates with educational initiatives as part of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. The agency aims to strengthen public confidence in vaccination programs and expand access to immunizations, particularly among children and families.

For more details on immunization requirements, Oregon residents can visit the OHA website or contact their local health department for assistance.