Maine has successfully achieved “herd immunity” for school-required vaccinations for the first time since 2011. This milestone was driven by a 2021 law that eliminated religious and philosophical exemptions for attending kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) schools.
Herd immunity occurs when at least 95% of a population is immunized against infectious diseases, reducing the risk of outbreaks. Maine’s vaccination coverage has improved significantly since the new law went into effect in the 2021-22 school year. The percentage of students opting out of vaccinations has plummeted from 4.5% in 2020-21 to 0.9% in 2023-24.
The Maine CDC reports that over 95% of students have received immunizations for various vaccines, including measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, and polio. Health officials emphasize the importance of childhood vaccinations to protect Maine’s youth from harmful and potentially fatal diseases.
State lawmakers and the Mills administration prioritized improving Maine’s vaccination rates after years of high opt-out rates left the state vulnerable to disease outbreaks. The new vaccine law has proven effective in increasing vaccination coverage, a critical step towards maintaining public health and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
