As the summer winds down and students prepare to return to classrooms across the United States, a renewed focus on childhood vaccinations is sweeping through communities from Virginia to Florida. With the first day of school just around the corner, health officials and educators are ramping up efforts to ensure that students are protected against preventable diseases—while also navigating rising concerns over declining immunization rates and the growing number of exemptions.
On August 8, 2025, Charlottesville High School in Virginia opened its doors for a walk-in vaccination event targeting incoming students in grades 7 through 12. The event, organized in partnership with the Blue Ridge Health District, provided not only the required shots but also a range of other immunizations. The goal was simple: make it as easy as possible for families to get their children vaccinated before the school year kicks off. According to WVIR, Dr. Erica Hunter, immunizations data and outreach manager with the Virginia Department of Health, emphasized the importance of these efforts. "We try our best to increase that awareness of vaccines and their requirements, and that’s just one way to try to ensure that the students and staff in Virginia are protected," she explained. "We’re sharing information with parents, so they’re well informed of immunizations."
Dr. Hunter noted that, so far, there hasn’t been a decline in vaccination rates for students in these grade levels. However, she pointed out a trend that’s becoming more evident not just in Virginia but nationwide: an uptick in religious exemptions. This means that while the overall numbers may not be plummeting, more families are choosing not to vaccinate their children for religious reasons—a development that public health experts are watching closely.
For families facing financial barriers, the Blue Ridge Health District offers a "vaccines for children" program, ensuring that cost is not an obstacle. Vaccines are provided for free or at a low cost for those who need them. This initiative, as reported by WVIR, is designed to close the gap and help protect every child, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
Meanwhile, several states farther south are grappling with a different set of challenges. In Florida, the return to school means not just new backpacks and lunchboxes, but also the return of classroom germs. With outbreaks of diseases like measles making headlines nationwide—and even some cases reported within Florida—public health experts are urging parents to make sure their children are up to date on all required immunizations. According to FOX 13, students entering pre-K through 12th grade for the first time in Florida must have shots for diseases such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), polio, and chickenpox, among others.
But here’s where things get tricky: immunization rates in the Sunshine State are on a downward trend. According to data from Florida Health Charts, the state’s immunization rate for kindergartners has dropped from about 93% in 2019 to just 88% in 2025. That might not sound like a huge dip, but public health experts warn it’s enough to put vulnerable children at risk. Jill Roberts, a professor with the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health, told FOX 13, "The pathogens spread very fast in schools and among little kids. As you probably know that after COVID, the immunization rates started to drop a little bit. The good news is it's not a massive drop in the usual numbers, but it's still to me, I'm not happy to see this, because we're leaving some kids that are unprotected."
Digging deeper into the numbers reveals a patchwork of coverage across the Tampa Bay region: vaccination rates range from 79% in Sarasota County to 86% in Hillsborough County, with Hardee County hitting the recommended 95% mark. That 95% is a crucial threshold—what experts call "herd immunity." It’s the level at which enough people are protected to prevent outbreaks, even among those who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons. As Roberts put it, "If somebody is medically fragile, especially kids with cancer and various other things, we got to make sure the rest of us are protecting them by getting vaccinated."
Dr. John Sinnott, a professor of medicine at the University of South Florida and medical director of global medicine at Tampa General Hospital, echoed that sentiment. "Vaccines are the simplest, safest way to protect your child, to keep them in class and out of the hospital, or even worse," he said. The message from health experts is clear: vaccines aren’t just about individual protection—they’re about keeping entire communities safe.
Still, confusion and misinformation persist. Some parents worry their children can’t get certain vaccines due to allergies or other concerns. Roberts addressed one common misconception: "I've had people even come to me about and say, well, 'my kid can't get the MMR, because they're allergic to eggs.' There's no eggs in the MMR vaccine." For families with questions, experts recommend talking to their child’s doctor or even reaching out to the school nurse—resources that can help sort fact from fiction.
To make vaccinations more accessible, schools are stepping up. In Hillsborough County, Florida, Leto High School will host a health fair on August 16, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering free shots and physicals. The district hopes that events like these will help boost immunization rates and keep kids healthy and in class. As the district told FOX 13, vaccines help ensure that students can focus on learning—not on recovering from preventable illnesses.
Of course, the debate over vaccinations is far from settled. While the majority of parents continue to vaccinate their children, the rise in exemptions—religious or otherwise—reflects a broader national conversation about personal choice, public health, and the responsibilities we share. For now, health officials are focused on education and outreach, hoping to persuade more families of the benefits of immunization.
"I think perhaps people don't understand that medicine is like life. Everything is a risk-benefit ratio. And the benefits of vaccination so far outweigh the risk," said Dr. Sinnott. It’s a message that’s echoed in school gymnasiums, doctors’ offices, and living rooms across the country as the new school year begins.
With measles outbreaks making headlines and immunization rates dipping below the herd immunity threshold in some areas, the stakes have rarely felt higher. Parents, educators, and health officials alike are working overtime to ensure that every child has the protection they need—not just for their own sake, but for the safety of the entire community.
The road ahead may be bumpy, but with continued outreach, education, and a little bit of neighborly concern, there’s hope that more families will roll up their sleeves and take the simple step that can keep classrooms—and communities—healthy and thriving.
