ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) — The rate of nonmedical exemptions for vaccines among Arkansas kindergartners inched upward in the 2024-25 school year, according to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC reports that 3.5% of kindergartners in Arkansas had nonmedical exemptions last school year, compared to 3.4% in 2023-24. The rate has steadily increased over the past decade, rising from 1.2% in 2014-15.

Medical exemptions have remained at about 0.1% since 2011, meaning nearly all exemptions in the state are for nonmedical reasons.

Data for every state can be found on the CDC website.

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