New CDC data draws attention to childhood vaccine hesitancy

Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak and potential changes to Florida’s school vaccine requirements also fueled debate.

New CDC data on school vaccine exemptions, a recent measles outbreak and two reported deaths in Pennsylvania, and a proposed Florida rule that would limit school vaccine requirements have fueled debate about childhood vaccination and vaccine safety.

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What’s trending in vaccine conversations

On August 17, the CDC released new data showing that non-medical vaccine exemption rates among U.S. kindergartners reached a record high during the 2025-2026 school year. Many social media users praised parents who skip routine childhood vaccines, with some repeating the myth connecting vaccines and autism. Others expressed concern that declining vaccination rates could lead to more disease outbreaks and deaths, particularly among children.

Conversation about vaccine exemptions increased in late August after Pennsylvania reported that two unvaccinated people had died of measles. The deaths occurred amid an outbreak in Lancaster County, home to large Amish and Mennonite communities. As of September 1, the CDC has not added the deaths to its measles death count, going against the typical protocol for reporting data and saying it needs more information to confirm the cause. News about the deaths sparked discussion about religious exemptions from vaccination, primarily among vaccine opponents. Commenters suggested that the government and schools should not mandate any vaccines. Some also falsely claimed that Amish communities never vaccinate children and alleged that these communities would have “died off” if vaccines were necessary. A few celebrated the Amish for “protecting” their children from autism by opting out of vaccination.

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Health proposed a new rule that would end school and daycare vaccine requirements for chickenpox, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and pneumococcal disease and broaden the state's religious exemption to include moral and ethical beliefs. The proposed rule prompted debate between Florida’s attorney general and the state’s Catholic bishops, who say that Catholic schools have a right to mandate vaccines. In response, some social media users expressed concern that eliminating those vaccine requirements would cause disease outbreaks and harm children’s health. Others suggested that childhood vaccines aren’t necessary and falsely claimed that they harm children’s immune systems.

Read the fact checks: 

• HealthyChildren.org: Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Vaccines and autism
• FullFact.org: Amish people do vaccinate - and autism exists in Amish communities
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Immune system and vaccines

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Recommendations for public health professionals

The Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. Use these helpful tips when creating content, updating web pages and FAQs, and developing strategy for messaging about vaccines.

The beginning of the school year is a key time to remind parents that it’s not too late to get their children up to date on vaccines. Health communicators may explain that routine childhood vaccines have prevented hundreds of millions of illnesses and millions of hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. over the past three decades. Continuing to point to decades of research showing no link between vaccines and autism is recommended. Messaging may also share vaccine recommendations from trusted medical groups, like the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The ongoing clash between political leaders over Pennsylvania’s reported measles deaths may distract communities from the key message: Measles is a serious disease, especially for babies, but high rates of community vaccination help stop outbreaks. The Amish have been used as an anti-vaccine talking point for decades. Health communicators may counteract these falsehoods by explaining that while Amish communities are vaccinated at lower rates than the general population, many do receive vaccines. Low vaccination rates make Amish populations vulnerable to preventable and potentially life-threatening diseases. In response to false claims that Amish children aren’t affected by autism because of lower vaccination rates, messaging may emphasize that autism occurs in Amish communities and decades of research have found no causal link between vaccines and autism.

State and federal policy proposals around vaccines often generate confusion about the practical implications. Communicators in Florida may explain that the proposal has not gone into effect and emphasize which vaccines are currently required for school and daycare attendance. Communicators in other states may face similar questions given the recent executive order calling for changes to the recommended schedule at the federal level. Messaging may explain that when vaccination rates fall, communities are more vulnerable to outbreaks of dangerous diseases like measles, which spreads quickly in schools. Debunking messaging may emphasize that vaccines do not harm children’s immune systems; instead, they teach children’s immune systems how to recognize and fight off potentially life-threatening pathogens. Talking points may focus on why building immunity from vaccination is much safer than risking an infection. Encouraging parents and caregivers to talk with a trusted health care provider about routine vaccines is recommended.