HHS probes school over unauthorized child vaccination
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday that the department has opened an investigation into a Midwestern school for allegedly vaccinating a child without parental consent despite a state religious exemption. In a video statement on X, he said HHS will launch compliance reviews of major providers, issue letters reminding providers of parents’ rights to timely access to children’s medical records, and have HRSA warn grant recipients that federal funds require adherence to parental‑rights protections. HHS will also review how states and districts process medical and religious exemptions under the Vaccines for Children program, and directed parents to file complaints with the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
📌 Key Facts
- HHS investigation announced by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. via video on X on Wednesday
- Allegation: a Midwestern school vaccinated a child without parental consent despite a religious exemption
- HHS launching compliance reviews and issuing provider letters; HRSA sending guidance to grant recipients
- OCR complaints invited; review of exemption processing tied to the Vaccines for Children program
📊 Relevant Data
During the 2024-2025 school year, 3.6% of kindergartners in the U.S. had exemptions from one or more required vaccines, up from 3.3% the previous year.
Vaccination Coverage and Exemptions among Kindergartners — CDC
As of 2025, 47 U.S. states allow exemptions from school vaccination requirements for religious and/or personal beliefs.
A Look at Recent Changes to State Vaccine Requirements for School Children — KFF
Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaskan Native children born in 2019-2020 had lower routine vaccine coverage than White children in the U.S.
Routine Child Vaccination Rates Lower Than Pre-Pandemic Levels — NCSL
In 2025, the projected percentage of U.S. children ages 0-17 by race and Hispanic origin is: non-Hispanic White 48.0%, non-Hispanic Black 13.9%, Hispanic 26.3%, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native 0.8%, non-Hispanic Asian 5.8%, non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.2%, two or more races 5.1%.
POP3 Race and Hispanic Origin Composition: Percentage of U.S. children ages 0–17 by race and Hispanic origin, 1980–2023 and projected 2024–2050 — childstats.gov