GA has nearly the worst vaccine rate in the US, federal data shows. Here’s where it ranks and why
When it comes to vaccines, Georgia’s rates are in sharp decline and the state falls well below national averages and public health thresholds. In fact, the state ranks near the bottom nationally for vaccination rates, coming in at 48th out of 51 states, according to a new WalletHub study.
Why is Georgia ranked 48th?
Georgia’s vaccination record leaves quite a bit to be desired. The CDC reports that only 86.8% of Georgia’s children entering kindergarten in 2024 were fully up-to-date on required vaccines, down from 94% a decade ago.
Georgia also suffered through a measles outbreak earlier this year, all of which were in unvaccinated children, despite the disease being eradicated decades ago. Georgia’s exemption rate climbed to 4.8% with most of the requests granted for religious reasons rather than medical reasons.
In an analysis of vaccination rates across children, teens, adults and seniors, Georgia did poorly in almost every category.
Georgia placed:
- 47th in child and teen immunization rates
- 44th in adult and elderly vaccinations
- 49th in disparities and access factors
The state’s overall score was far below the top-ranked state which scored 81.95.
How they get the numbers
The survey goes beyond just COVID and flu vaccinations. It included data from common vaccinations for young children and adults.
WalletHub weighed 16 key metrics gathered from the CDC, U.S. Census Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Kaiser Family Foundation to arrive at the data.
These metrics include:
- Rates of recommended vaccines for children (MMR, DTaP, polio, HPV, meningitis, flu)
- Adult vaccinations such as flu, pneumonia, tetanus, and shingles
- Gaps in coverage, including percentage of uninsured residents and those in health professional shortage areas
- Participation in immunization information systems, which track vaccination records
The best and the worst of vaccinated states
The states leading in vaccination coverage are largely in the Northeast and Northwest.
Top five states
- 1 - Massachusetts
- 2- New Hampshire
- 3- Washington
- 4 - Connecticut
- 5 - Rhode Island
Bottom five states
At the bottom, many Southern states rank low across child and adult immunizations.
- 47 - Kentucky
- 48 - Georgia
- 49 - Alabama
- 50 - Nevada
- 51 - Mississippi
Get vaccinated in Georgia
The practice of vaccinating the public has been around for 225 years and the World Health Organization (WHO) says they “prevent sickness and death associated with infectious diseases such as diarrhea, measles, pneumonia, polio and whooping cough.”
Beyond that vaccines also promote positive gains in education and economic development and experts warn low vaccination rates put communities at greater risk and signal gaps in public health access.
Despite the changes from the federal government, most vaccines are still widely available.
Some options include:
- Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) county health departments. Find a location near you by using the scheduling website.
- Most pharmacies provide flu shots, shingles, pneumonia, and some other adult vaccines without an appointment.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs): To find a directory use the official HRSA Find a Health Center tool
- Primary care providers and pediatricians.
Do you plan to get vaccinated this year? Where will you go? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.
This story was originally published September 12, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "GA has nearly the worst vaccine rate in the US, federal data shows. Here’s where it ranks and why."