Promise Partnership Utah co-published a report titled “The Impact of Declining Vaccination Rates for Children Entering School in Utah.” The report was released by the Community Vaccine Forum, which includes Utah Citizens’ Counsel, Promise Partnership Utah, Voices for Utah Children, Utah Medical Association, Utah Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, and Utah Public Health Association.
Together, these partners conducted a year-long study with three goals: 1) encourage responsible and informed discussions about vaccines for children, 2) evaluate whether declining vaccination rates represent a genuine public health concern, and 3) provide reliable information on the benefits and risks of vaccines for children.
What’s in the Report?
The report reviews the historical devastation of childhood infectious diseases such as measles, smallpox, and pertussis before the introduction of vaccines. It then demonstrates the sharp decline in illness and death following the introduction of childhood vaccines such as the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) Combo, DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) Combo, Polio, and Smallpox vaccines.
Although Utah has historically achieved high vaccination rates for children entering kindergarten, the report expresses concern about declining rates over the last several years—citing data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that MMR vaccination rate for children entering Kindergarten in Utah has fallen from 98.3% in 2005-2006 to 88.8% in 2023-2024. This is well below the 95% threshold recommended by the CDC to prevent community transmission. “This situation poses a risk of a measles outbreak in several schools in Utah,” the report states.
Utah publishes a schedule of required immunizations for entry into childcare settings, kindergarten, and seventh grade, with provisions for medical and personal exemptions. The report explains that there has been an increase in exemptions from school vaccine requirements, with the majority of parents who seek an exemption indicating concern about the safety of vaccines as the primary reason. Additionally, the report cites “the politicization of the pandemic [which] led to a surge of misinformation and disinformation surrounding vaccines” as a contributing factor to the declining vaccination levels in Utah schools.
Childhood Vaccines Protect the Whole Community
Finally, the report addresses common concerns and misinformation about vaccines by giving an overview of the extensive testing and validation processes that vaccines undergo before being considered safe for administration to the general population. While acknowledging that there is some risk of adverse vaccine effects, they are either temporary and not dangerous or extremely rare. Ultimately, the report concludes that any potential risks of adverse effects caused by immunizations are far outweighed by the benefits and protection they provide to individuals and communities.
“Perhaps the most compelling truth is that vaccines for childhood infectious diseases have been around for generations and have been safely administered to millions of children. Contrary to what some may claim, the fact remains that childhood vaccinations have undergone extensive clinical trials before public use,” the report states.
The report explains the importance of establishing and maintaining herd immunity for public health and preventing disease outbreaks. “It is essential to remember that community protection is vital for non-immune individuals who cannot receive vaccinations, as they rely on high levels of vaccination coverage in the community to safeguard against infectious diseases. These individuals include infants who are too young to be vaccinated, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems due to conditions such as cancer.”
We understand the health and safety of individual children, their families, and the community more broadly are impacted by the declining rate of childhood vaccine uptake, and we are working closely with our partners to improve outcomes in this and many other indicators. Promise Partnership Utah is invested in this work as part of our mission to ensure 100% of kids and families in Utah can thrive.
Written by Jenna Fischer, Content Strategist
