Vaccination rates among kindergartners in Hawaiʻi have improved for the 2024-2025 school year compared to the previous year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite this progress, religious exemptions for vaccinations continue to rise across grades K-12.
The CDC reports that while Hawaiʻi’s kindergartner vaccination rates have been increasing over the past three years, they still fall below national averages. For example, coverage for DTP, DTaP or DT vaccines among Hawaiʻi kindergartners reached 91.5% in 2024-25, compared to a national average of 92.1%. Similar gaps exist for other vaccines such as Hepatitis B, MMR, polio, and varicella.
Religious exemption rates in Hawaiʻi increased slightly from 5.3% in the 2023-24 school year to 5.4% in 2024-25. Nationally, this rate rose from 3.1% to 3.4%. These figures reflect students’ vaccination status at the start of the current school year.
“It’s encouraging to see CDC data showing vaccination rates among Hawaiʻi kindergartners moving in the right direction,” said Dr. Kenneth Fink, director of the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH). “However, the religious exemption rate remains high and this preceded changes at the CDC, including to its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. At DOH we need to continue to work to be a trusted source and provide evidence-based recommendations so individuals can protect themselves, their loved ones and their community.”
The state has not yet reached its target of a 95% vaccination rate needed for herd immunity against diseases like measles. The MMR vaccine coverage remains just under 90%, which is concerning given recent outbreaks of measles both nationally and globally. In April 2025, two confirmed cases of measles were detected in Hawaiʻi; a wastewater sample also tested positive for measles virus in August.
The DOH gathers self-reported data from schools on medical and non-medical exemptions as well as missing or incomplete records. For the current school year, more than twenty additional schools contributed data compared with last year’s report.
Statewide religious exemption rates among K-12 students stand at 4.9% for this school year—up from last year’s statewide rate of 4.1%. County-level figures vary: Hawaiʻi County reports a rate of 9.1%, Honolulu County is at 3.3%, Kauaʻi County at 9.5%, and Maui County at 6.8%. Missing immunizations also contribute significantly; statewide figures show that among kindergartners and seventh graders respectively, about one out of seven (15.6%) kindergartners and over half (51.6%) seventh graders are not up-to-date on required immunizations.
Low uptake of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine—a requirement for seventh grade—is likely contributing to an ongoing increase in pertussis cases across Hawaii.
“Too many of our students remain unprotected against serious diseases like measles and pertussis,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble.“With outbreaks increasing both here and worldwide,we urge families to review their children’s recordsand work with their healthcare providers to ensure they are up-to-date on all required immunizations.”
Nearly one-fifth (20.7%)of Hawaii’s students—almost40,000 statewide—are not up-to-date with required immunizations.This includes those with exemptions,incomplete or missing records.The proportion has decreased slightly since last school year when it was21 .3%.
Seventh graders are most affected by these gaps due largelyto additional requirements introduced duringthe COVID-19 pandemic: more than half(51 .6%)were not up-to-date comparedto15 .6 %ofkindergartners.Among399reporting schools ,three quarters hadmorethan five percentofstudentsnotup -to -date.Twenty-four schools reportedoverhalf theirstudentsbehindonvaccines,and sixschoolsreportedover75 %notuptodate .
To address these issues,the DOHis expandingits Healthy Hawaii Partners Program(HHPP)to reach more schools.HHPP brings together schools ,healthcare providers,and community groups tomake health services—includingimmunizations—more accessible.Lastyear ,HHPP hosted47 clinics.Thisyear ,morethan350school-basedwellnessclinicsareplannedwithcommunitypartners.Servicesmayincludeimmunizationsforflu,COVID -19,andotherrequirementsaswellasTBscreeningsandphysicalexamsforstudents ,staff,andthecommunity .
