In the midst of statewide measles outbreaks and a general decline in vaccination rates, Connecticut public health authorities said Tuesday that the state leads the nation in kindergarteners’ two-dose measles vaccination rate.
For the 2024–25 school year, 98.3% of kindergarteners in the state received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which represents a 0.5 percent increase over the year before. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) statistics supports that.
Compared to the rest of the nation, Connecticut has seen a little increase in immunization rates. MMR and polio vaccination rates among kindergarteners nationwide fell to less than 93%.
A total of 1,333 confirmed cases of measles were reported nationwide, including in neighboring Rhode Island and New York City. As of July 29, the CDC has not received any reports of illnesses in Connecticut.
According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, high vaccination rates create herd immunity, which protects both vaccinated and unvaccinated children. However, at least 95% of kindergarteners need to be vaccinated for MMR herd immunity to take effect.
As measles cases continue to rise nationwide, Connecticut has managed to stay in the top ten states without a case thanks to our excellent immunization rates, DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said in a statement.
According to CDC data, non-medical vaccine exemptions increased by 0.3% nationally but declined somewhat in Connecticut from the 2023–24 to the 2024–25 school years.
Get more slender
Go to ct.gov/getmyvaccinerecord to safely obtain your child’s vaccination history online. The Connecticut Department of Public Health Immunization Program offers the CT WiZ Public Portal as a free service.
Contact the Connecticut Vaccine Program by phone at 860-509-7929 or by email at [email protected] if you have any questions about vaccines.
