DENVER — From the time they're little, going to the doctor with your kids comes with a list of vaccines they need to be protected from preventable diseases — everything from measles to chickenpox. That is, unless they can get an exemption.
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found a record number of parents and caregivers are opting their kids out of those routine vaccinations.
"We know vaccines work really well to prevent outbreaks from happening. So when we see a dip, we do get worried," said Dr. Sonja OLeary, director of outpatient general pediatrics with Denver Health.
That CDC data found that 3% of kids around the country going into kindergarten in the 2022-23 school year were granted a vaccine exemption, the highest rate yet.
The number of kids being opted out from their shots in Colorado is also rising, sitting around 4.3%, according to data from the CDC.
Dr. OLeary said she doesn't believe parents are more vaccine hesitant than last year, rather that parents are just behind.
"I feel like there is definitely a lower rate of vaccination that occurred because of the pandemic and we just haven't been able to get on top of that," OLeary said. "And there is inadequate access to care, especially for patients on public insurance or who are uninsured, it’s something Denver Health is trying to work on and others around the state."
But Dr. OLeary said any time the number of children immunized for preventable diseases drops, it's concerning.
"For example, the measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans and you need to maintain like 95% vaccination rates, otherwise you start to see outbreaks like in 2019 when we saw them across the country," OLeary said.
OLeary said if these numbers don't pick up, it leaves an opening for these diseases to spread.
"I think now, with the rates being lower and with our public health colleagues being stretched thin from the pandemic, it does make you a little worried about what might happen," she said.
With these exemption numbers so high, OLeary said they need to keep a close eye on immunization rates over the next year to try and prevent any outbreaks.
But, she's hopeful that parents catching kids up on doctor visits will catch them up on these needed shots, too.
"I do think that most of them trust their pediatric providers and want to do the best thing for their children. So I'm very hopeful we can get that percentage up in the next couple of years," OLeary said.
If you think your child may have missed a dose, OLeary said call your pediatrician's office or check in with your child's school. They'll have records of what vaccinations they've received and can tell you if your child is on track with their shots.
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