(WJAR) -- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more kids across the country are entering school without being fully vaccinated.
New data shows vaccination coverage for kindergarteners is slipping, while exemption rates are rising to record highs.
"In Rhode Island we're very lucky because our vaccination rates for children entering kindergarten are about 95%," said Rhode Island Department of Health Director Jerome Larkin. "Our vaccination rates for measles, mumps, and rubella, which has been in the news a lot recently, are greater than 95%."
The CDC data shows the national vaccination rate for kindergartners dropped below 93% last year -- below the 95% level needed for herd immunity against diseases like measles and whooping cough which are highly contagious and can cause serious illness in children.
"Measles is an extremely infectious disease, so that means that a person who has measles can give measles just by being in the same room as someone who is unvaccinated," said Larkin.
At the same time, the number of parents requesting exemptions -- often for religious reasons -- has been steadily climbing.
During the 2024-2025 school year, 4.1% of kindergartners nationwide, about 138,000 kids, had a vaccine exemption-- surpassing the previous record high of 3.7% during the prior school year.
Nearly all exemptions are nonmedical, meaning families are skipping vaccines for religious or personal reasons.
Data from the Rhode Island Department of Health shows a rise in students with religious exemptions since 2020 among different grade levels.
"We support the right for parents to choose to have their children vaccinated and which vaccines they would like to have," said Washington County Moms for Liberty Chapter Chair Amy Rodrigues.
Health officials point to a mix of misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and post-pandemic distrust as key drivers.
"It is the parents right to direct the medical decisions of their children and not the government," said Rodrigues.
Experts warn even small drops in immunization can open the door for disease outbreaks especially in schools.
"Vaccines are not political. Vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical intervention we've ever come up with," said Larkin.
The data reported by the CDC comes as 2025 has logged the highest number of measles cases in 33 years: More than 1,300 cases in 39 states.
Rhode Island is a universal access state - meaning any child who needs vaccinations can get them at no cost.
More about where your child can get vaccinated can be found on the state's Department of Health website.