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FACT BRIEF

Are childhood vaccine exemption rates in Nevada increasing?

By Tabitha Mueller on 02/24/2025

Yes.

Since 2019, Nevada has seen a notable increase in school vaccine exemptions.

A 2025 state report indicates that the total exemption rate for kindergarteners has increased from 4 percent in the 2019-2020 school year to 7.1 percent in the 2023-2024 school year.

Most exemptions are listed for religious reasons, growing from 3.5 percent to 6.2 percent, while medical exemptions have remained relatively low. 

The rise in exemption rates mirrors a nationwide trend. 

An analysis from the health care policy organization KFF indicates that nationwide, the share of children claiming an exemption from one or more vaccinations rose from 2.5 percent in the 2019-2020 school year to 3.3 percent in the 2023-2024 school year. KFF reported that was the highest national exemption rate to date.

Overall, school immunization rates in Nevada are above 90 percent.

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