Immunizations- kindergartners with exemptions in Maine
Why This Indicator Matters
What the data shows
For 2019, (the 2019-2020 school year) Piscataquis (10.8), Franklin (10.5%) Hancock (10.1%) Counties had kindergarten vaccination exemption rates above 10%. For 2019, five counties achieved the 95% vaccination rate and had kindergarten exemptions below 5%. These counties were: Washington (2.8%), Aroostook (3.0%), Penobscot, (5.0%), York (4.8%), and Androscoggin (4.8%).
Looking at 4 years of data, the overall rate of kindergarten exemptions for vaccinations increased each year from 4.5% in 2015-2016 to 6.2% in 2018-2019, but it dipped slightly in 2019 to 5.9%, though certain counties continued to show increasing rates.
Definitions:
Kindergartners with exemptions shows the percent of kindergarten students with a written exemption on file for medical, religious or philosophical reasons for any required vaccine. The numerator is the number of kindergartners with an exemption for any vaccine and the denominator is the number of kindergartners.
Data Source:
Maine Center for Disease Control School Vaccination Reports
Footnotes:
The year refers to the school year where 2019 represents the 2019-2020 school year. Vaccination records are as of October 1.
The percentage of missing records for 2019 is 1.2%. Maine law requires these students be excluded from schools by superintendents until records are provided.
Updated May 2020