More school-aged children in Polk County and across Iowa received “religious” exemptions to required immunizations last year, marking another increase in a trend that has concerned public health officials since the coronavirus pandemic.
Slow increase in exemptions also comes as childhood immunization rates continue to decline across the state, which some experts say is directly caused by vaccine misinformation that was rampant during the coronavirus pandemic.
Hesitancy surrounding new COVID-19 shots has spread to other shots, including routine childhood vaccines, leading to more young Iowans skipping vaccinations that offer key protection to serious disease.
“We’ve seen a rampant spread of misinformation, and some parents and caregivers can be vulnerable to that because of the backlash against COVID vaccines,” said Elizabeth Faber, executive director of the Iowa Immunizes Coalition.
In 2023, more than 2,400 students in school districts across Polk County received a religious exemption to school vaccination requirements, according to the county health departments annual school audit report. That group makes up about 3% of student enrollment in Polk County.