Vaccination rates among New Jersey children continue to fall as religious exemptions rise, a trend that public health experts say may contribute to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Data from the state Department of Health shows 24,962 kids skipped vaccines for religious reasons during the 2024-25 school year, a nearly 25% increase from the previous year. New Jersey is one of 29 states that allow exemptions for religious reasons, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Medical and religious reasons are the only acceptable grounds for skipping mandatory immunization requirements in New Jersey schools and daycares. Here is a county-by-county breakdown of how many school children have been granted exemptions from vaccines:If the chart below is not showing, you can see it here.