Fewer kindergarteners are getting vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Vaccine numbers for kindergarteners in the United States were down last year, compared to the year before, the CDC said.

It’s a trend Dr. Kimberly Giuliano with the Cleveland Clinic said she’s been noticing since the pandemic.

Giuliano said she understands why some parents are hesitant to get their kids vaccinated. However, she also said there are countless studies showing the safety of vaccines.

Their side effects are typically minimal, if kids experience them at all.

“There are some children who can’t receive vaccines, live vaccines, for instance, because of their immunocompromised status, or children with chronic health conditions who might not mount a great immune response to their vaccines,” Giuliano said. “If we have the vaccines protecting the vast majority of us, those children who are more vulnerable are less likely to come in contact with illnesses. So we’re really making a decision for all of our children.”

Public health officials are aiming to get 95% of kindergarteners vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella. That’s a goal they hope to reach by 2030. This will help create herd immunity, according to health experts, which makes it harder for these diseases to spread.

Hear about how Giuliano said getting vaccinated can help other kids who can’t get vaccinated due to health problems, by watching the video.