New state health data show 1.7% of Maryland’s 63,000 kindergartners — about 1,075 children — used a religious exemption in the 2024–25 school year, the highest rate since 2019–20, when exemptions peaked before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted school procedures. While the share remains below the national average of 3.6%, health officials call the trend concerning.
“COVID put us behind the eight ball in terms of vaccination levels in kids,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin of the American Public Health Association, warning about the risk to herd immunity.
Rates vary by district. In small counties such as Kent and Garrett, over 4% of kindergartners opted out, though officials note small class sizes can skew percentages. School health managers also point to access issues, such as lack of healthcare coverage or unstable housing.
Maryland law requires vaccinations against diseases like measles and polio, but religious exemptions are simple to obtain compared to medical exemptions, which require a doctor’s note.
Despite the rise, overall vaccine coverage in Maryland remains high, with 2.2% of kindergartners exempted for medical or religious reasons combined.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
