Vaccinations deserve your undivided attention

Vaccines can cause division anywhere, but in Idaho, it's even pronounced. Most Idaho parents will have their children vaccinated, but a growing number will not.  

A press release from the Idaho Immunization Coalition on Friday raised some interesting points. A key one encouraged parents to spend time researching and understanding vaccines before saying yes or no. The IIC urges Idaho parents to take three steps as the school year begins: 

• Check your child's vaccination records, 

• Talk to your pediatrician or healthcare provider about any vaccines that may be overdue, 

• Contact IIC with any questions about immunization schedules or resources available in your community. 

"We are here to support all Idaho families," said Karen Sharpnack, executive director of the Idaho Immunization Coalition. "If you have questions about vaccines, we encourage you to start with your doctor, so every family can make the best, evidence-based decisions possible for their and their family's health.” 

The issue is in the spotlight.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday announced a Request for Information seeking public input on the categories used in federal vaccine recommendations. 

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order backing fewer routine vaccines for kids.

The Associated Press also reported that U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates inched down again last year, and the share of children with exemptions rose to an all-time high.

The fraction of kids exempted from vaccine requirements rose to 4.2%, up from 3.6% the year before. That’s an estimated 155,000 children nationally during the 2025-2026 school year, AP reported. It’s the fourth consecutive year that the national average exemption rate has reached a record, and the vast majority are parents withholding shots for nonmedical reasons. Exemptions increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the three most common parental reasons for not vaccinating children with the 2023–24 COVID-19 vaccine were concerns about side effects or the vaccine's safety, the belief that COVID-19 was not a serious disease for their child, and the belief that the vaccines do not work well. 

In Idaho, during the 2024-25 school year, only 74.8% of kindergarten students had proof of immunization on file, according to an Idaho Education News report. More than one in four kindergartners attended school without complete documentation, and exemption rates continue to rise. 

According to newly released federal data cited by the Idaho Immunization Coalition, 17.5% of Idaho kindergartners received exemptions to one or more recommended vaccines during the 2025-26 school year, more than four times the national average. 

The trend raises important points.

Vaccination decisions are among the most significant health choices parents make for their children. They deserve thoughtful consideration, not routine acceptance and not automatic rejection. 

Parents should take time to review the available research and ask questions of healthcare professionals and others with solid information. We're talking about examining multiple sources, considering the quality of the evidence, and understanding benefits and risks, more than just cursory review. 

Much is at stake. 

Some public health officials warn that declining vaccination rates may create conditions that allow some preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough to return. 

At the same time, parents with questions about vaccines should not be dismissed. Asking questions is responsible parenting. Every parent wants to protect their child.

The growing number of exemptions in Idaho shows that many families are making vaccination decisions, which Idaho allows. IEN reported that parents can opt out of any or all vaccinations by filing an exemption with the school. They don’t have to cite a religious issue or a health concern.

Every parent has the right and responsibility to make healthcare decisions for their children. With that right comes the obligation to be informed. We're not saying you should be prepared to pass a vaccine quiz, but Idaho parents owe it to their children to make wise decisions.