Student vaccine waivers are on the rise in Michigan.

The data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows 6.2% of kindergartners, 7th graders, and new students received a waiver for at least one of the six required vaccines to attend school. That’s a 90% increase since 2020, when only 3.4% of students had a waiver.

Waivers can be requested for medical, religious, or personal reasons.

Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties all rank lower among counties for child vaccination waivers, with 5% or less of students having the waivers.