More kindergartners in Connecticut received their required measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine shots in the 2023–24 school year, according to the latest data from the state Department of Public Health (DPH).
Among schools with more than 30 kindergarten students, there was a 3% increase in the number of schools with MMR vaccination rates at or above 95%, compared with last year.
Statewide, 97.7% of kindergartners were vaccinated against MMR, an increase of 0.4% from the previous year. This makes Connecticut one of just 11 states in the U.S. with MMR vaccine coverage above 95%, according to the DPH.
That’s the threshold necessary for herd immunity against measles this school year. Nationally, MMR coverage declined from 93.1% to 92.7%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Parents should ensure their children’s immunizations are up to date ahead of the holiday season, the DPH said.
“If parents have any questions or concerns about vaccinating their children, they should discuss them with their child’s primary care provider,” said Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the DPH in a statement. “We want to make sure every child attending school in Connecticut is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.”
School attendance is crucial to academic success and supports students’ social, emotional, and physical well-being, Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Education, said in a statement.
“Immunizations are one of the many important tools that help create safe and supportive learning environments for all,” Russell-Tucker said.
Learn more
To get your child’s vaccine record securely online, visit ct.gov/getmyvaccinerecord.
If you have questions regarding the Connecticut Vaccine Program call 860-509-7929 or email dph.immunizations@ct.gov.
For more information about vaccines, visit the CDC’s website.
