Introduction to the Issue
Despite an outbreak of measles last year in a Weston elementary school, Broward County saw a dramatic drop in its immunization rate for kindergartners in 2025. In Broward, only 82.2% of 2024-25 kindergartners got their required vaccinations — the lowest level in 15 years. The public health goal is a vaccination rate of 95% — the level that makes it unlikely that a single infection will spark a disease cluster or outbreak.
The Declining Vaccination Rate
The declining rate reflects the heated debate raging on social media and among South Florida parents. “There’s a lot of distrust in the health system,” said Daniela Rodriguez, a Broward County mother with two children in elementary school and a 1-year-old. “After COVID, people have gotten more educated about vaccines and have started questioning things that weren’t questioned before.”
Vulnerable Groups
Public health officials focus on vaccination rates for kindergartners because elementary schools can be hot spots for germs and origins of community spread. By kindergarten, children must be vaccinated for diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chicken pox, and Hepatitis B. Outbreaks often start in small, localized areas, where the level of vaccination in that community determines its risk. The other South Florida counties also have low immunization coverage in kindergartners. Palm Beach County reported 89.8% of 2024-25 kindergartners received their required vaccines, and Miami-Dade reported 91%.
State and National Comparison
Florida’s statewide rate for kindergarten vaccinations is 88.8%, well below the national average of 93%. “When the rate is low, we are at an increased risk of some of these diseases we have seen eliminated making a comeback,” said Jennifer Takagishi, a Tampa pediatrician and vice president of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The Impact of Low Vaccination Rates
One of the vaccines given before kindergarten is for pertussis (whooping cough), which young children are more prone to catching during the fall and winter months. Florida has already had a record number of whooping cough cases in 2025 — more than 1,100 cases compared with 391 in 2019, before the pandemic. Children diagnosed with whooping cough, a respiratory infection, can lose their breath, have apnea spells, or vomit. Health experts expect to see a continued rise. “Vaccination declines we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic aren’t rebounding,” said Takagishi, adding that it may take a year or two before the lowered immunization rate is reflected in a rash of diseases.
Exemptions are Setting Records
Florida law requires that students entering kindergarten be vaccinated for certain contagious diseases; however, they can be exempted by their doctor for medical reasons or by their parents if they affirm the shots conflict with the family’s religious practices. Across the U.S., the share of children with exemptions from required vaccines rose to an all-time high of 3.6% in 2024-25. In Florida, the group of kids exempted from vaccine requirements was 6.29%, surpassing the national average. And in some Florida counties, the exemption rate is as high as 15.03%, according to state health data.
Who is at Risk?
With more children in schools who are unvaccinated, parents and older relatives are at risk, too. “It’s not just about the danger of disease for the children; it is also dangerous for parents who may or may not have had a vaccine, for people whose immune systems are not working well, and for people who are older and were vaccinated a long time ago,” Takagishi said. “It’s putting a lot of people at risk.”
What is Behind South Florida’s Low Vaccination Coverage?
Health experts say the COVID pandemic shifted vaccine hesitancy into high gear. Conversations with local parents bear that out. “COVID opened eyes when we saw that vaccines didn’t work and in some cases they did harm,” said Rodriguez, the Broward County mother of three. Local pediatricians see parents’ hesitancy in their exam rooms. Dr. Michael Glazier, a pediatrician and chief medical officer of Bluebird Kids Health in Tamarac, said parents have more questions about vaccines.
All Vaccines Carry Risk
Nelson at FAU said while there is some risk of harm from childhood vaccines, it’s minuscule compared to the danger of a contagious disease. “Some of these diseases are quite devastating,” he said. “Measles and mumps might be relatively benign diseases and most people don’t have long-term consequences, although there are unquestionably liver injuries and other things like brain swelling. But polio is a terrible lifelong disease that, if you don’t die from it, you could be left with severe incapacitation.”
Conclusion
The decline in childhood vaccination rates in South Florida is a concerning trend that puts not only children but also adults and individuals with compromised immune systems at risk. Understanding the reasons behind this decline and addressing the misconceptions about vaccine safety and efficacy are crucial steps in reversing this trend and protecting public health.
FAQs
- Q: What is the current vaccination rate for kindergartners in Broward County?
A: The current vaccination rate for kindergartners in Broward County is 82.2%, which is the lowest in 15 years. - Q: What is the public health goal for vaccination rates?
A: The public health goal is a vaccination rate of 95%, which makes it unlikely for a single infection to spark a disease cluster or outbreak. - Q: Who is at risk due to low vaccination rates?
A: Children, parents, older relatives, and individuals with compromised immune systems are at risk due to low vaccination rates. - Q: Why are vaccination rates declining in South Florida?
A: The decline in vaccination rates is attributed to the COVID pandemic, which has led to increased skepticism and hesitancy among parents regarding vaccine safety and efficacy. - Q: Are vaccines safe?
A: Yes, vaccines are rigorously tested and proven to be safe, with the risk of harm being minuscule compared to the danger of contagious diseases.
