Hawai’i Health Alert: Rising Immunization Gaps Among Students Under Governor Josh Green’s Leadership

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR

KE KIA‘ĀINA

KENNETH S. FINK, M.D., MGA, MPH
DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

 MANY HAWAIʻI STUDENTS BEHIND ON IMMUNIZATIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 9, 2025                                                                                                    25-004

HONOLULU — Alarmingly, the count of Hawaiʻi students who are not current with immunizations is on the rise, according to recent findings from the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH).

Out of the total, 39,583, which accounts for 21% of students from public, charter, and private institutions, were not compliant with their mandatory school immunizations for the 2023-24 academic year. The statistics show a 25% rise from the 2022-23 academic year. This figure encompasses those claiming exemptions, those lacking immunization documentation, or students without specific necessary vaccines.

The predominant portion of this rise in missing mandated school immunizations pertains to the requirements for 7th grade implemented in 2020 during the COVID crisis. For the 2023-2024 academic year, 16% of kindergarteners were not compliant with school-required vaccinations, in contrast to 55% of seventh graders.

Among the 382 schools reporting for the 2023-24 year, 282 schools (74%) indicated that over 5% of their student enclaves were not current with Hawaiʻi’s school immunization mandates. Regrettably, 36 schools (nearly 10%) reported that more than half of their student population was not updated.

Within Hawaiʻi public schools, the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (DOE) stated that 36,026 students were lacking one or more mandated immunizations for the 2023-24 academic year.

Initial data for the 2024-25 academic year reveals that 28,300 students are missing one or more vaccinations, according to the DOE. Schools have until Jan. 10, 2025, to report to DOH regarding the count of students not compliant with immunizations.

“The rise in the number of students lacking up-to-date immunizations is troubling,” stated Dr. Kenneth Fink, DOH director. “High vaccination rates are essential to safeguard those who cannot receive certain vaccines due to medical conditions, as well as those with non-medical exemptions, through the phenomenon known as herd immunity. Low vaccination levels increase the risk of infection for unvaccinated keiki, especially within schools where a significant portion of the student body is not up to date. We are already observing a surge in pertussis cases and face the threat of a measles outbreak. Vaccinations are critical to shield infants, children, and adults from potentially severe and contagious illnesses.”

In Hawaiʻi, there are two categories of vaccination exemptions for schools: medical and religious. Data from DOH suggests an average religious exemption rate of 4.1% for the 2023-24 academic year across the state, representing a rising trend since prior years, which started at 2.1% in 2019-20. Medical exemptions have risen from 0.07% in 2019-20 to 0.16% in 2023-24, but overall they remain minimal.

The CDC has also acknowledged a similar upward trend in Hawaiʻi’s religious exemption rate in recent years through a distinct analysis. (Vaccination Coverage and Exemptions among Kindergartners | SchoolVaxView | CDC).

Across the nation, including Hawaiʻi, a worrying increase in vaccine hesitancy has been observed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proliferation of misinformation surrounding vaccines continues to escalate and has fueled this trend. Furthermore, ongoing challenges concerning missed vaccinations stem from issues in accessing healthcare, particularly in rural regions.

DOH is collaborating closely with educational partners and healthcare providers to tackle persistent challenges that may be contributing to this trend. Efforts include informing families that vaccinations are the strongest defense against certain life-threatening diseases; partnering with pharmacies and medical practices to enhance access; and improving the collection, analysis, and reporting of accurate data on student immunizations by modernizing the Hawaiʻi Immunization Registry.

To access the immunization data by school, click here.

# # #

Media Contact: 

Stephen J. Downes

Director of Communications

Hawaiʻi State Department of Health

Phone: 808-586-4417

Email: [email protected]