The 10 states that vaccinate the most — and the 10 that vaccinate the least

Sep 15, 2026 12:54 AM - 1 hour ago 2

A man receives a shot.

Fewer than 44% of group successful the US received a flu changeable during the 2025—2026 season. Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The likelihood of experiencing a vaccine-preventable illness outbreak has overmuch to do pinch wherever you live.

A September study from the individual finance website WalletHub analyzed US vaccination rates crossed each 50 states and the District of Columbia, utilizing information from the US Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, IBTimes, Kaiser Family Foundation, and ProCon.org.

The study examined vaccination rates among children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly, arsenic good arsenic differences successful entree and different factors that influence vaccination rates. WalletHub past scored each authorities and DC done a weighted mean crossed each metrics.

New England states made up the apical 5 and had among the highest flu changeable rates, while Mississippi classed last. The information comes arsenic flu play enters afloat plaything and bales outbreaks proceed crossed the US.

CDC information show that less than 44% of group successful the US aged 6 months and older received a flu changeable during the 2024-2025 season, compared pinch astir 52% successful 2020-2021. About 51 cardinal group caught the flu that year, pinch astir 710,000 group hospitalized owed to complications and 45,000 dying from it.

As of February 2026, an estimated 47% of adults got the flu shot for the 2025-2026 season.

Measles vaccination rates are besides little than a fewer years ago. Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and different states person reported bales outbreaks and rising lawsuit numbers.

WalletHub expert Chip Lupo said anti-vaccination rhetoric and skepticism toward vaccination benefits since COVID-19 person contributed to little vaccination rates.

"Seeing arsenic being anti-vaccination has go trendy successful immoderate circles, and misinformation is each complete the internet, it's much important now than ever to dispersed consciousness of the benefits of vaccines and make judge arsenic galore group arsenic imaginable person perchance life-saving immunizations," he said.

Still, immoderate diseases, for illustration smallpox, person been wholly eradicated, acknowledgment to wide vaccinations. Lupo said the states that vaccinate the astir group "provide the safest environments erstwhile it comes to nationalist health" and person a little likelihood of outbreaks.

Here are the states pinch the highest and lowest vaccination rates nationwide.

10. Washington

Snow-covered Mount Rainier rises down evergreen trees and municipality flat buildings astatine dusk.

Olympia, Washington. John Callery/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Score: 66.75

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 13

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 7

9. Minnesota

Downtown Saint Paul skyline glows astatine dusk beside the Mississippi River nether a cloudy bluish sky.

Saint Paul, Minnesota. RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Score: 66.78

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 24

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 6

8. Virginia

Roanoke, Virginia, USA downtown skyline astatine dawn.

Roanoke, Virginia. Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Score: 67.75

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 7

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 17

7. Wisconsin

A precocious up position of the Milwaukee skyline

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jon Mattrisch/Getty Images

Score: 68.55

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 18

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 8

6. Pennsylvania

Downtown Harrisburg skyline pinch Pennsylvania State Capitol dome and riverfront buildings nether a bluish sky.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. TW Farlow/Getty Images

Score: 68.60

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 6

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 15

5. Maine

Bar Harbor, Maine.

Bar Harbor, Maine. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Score: 69.04

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 17

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 2

4. Rhode Island

Downtown Providence skyline rises supra riverwalk stairs, bridges, trees, and waterfront connected a clear sunny day.

Providence, Rhode Island. Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images

Score: 69.16

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 4

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 18

3. New Hampshire

A scenic New England town.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire. : Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Score: 73.67

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 5

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 2

2. Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston, Massachusetts. Thomas Roell/Getty Images

Score: 80.63

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 1

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 4

1. Vermont

The downtown area of a mini municipality covered successful autumn foliage.

Montpelier, Vermont. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Score: 84.77

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 2

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 1

41. Florida

boca raton florida

Boca Raton, Florida. 6381380/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Score: 47.44

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 27

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 48

42. Idaho

Downtown Boise skyline and Idaho State Capitol seen complete an autumn tree-lined boulevard pinch foothills beyond.

Boise, Idaho. christiannafzger/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Score: 46.92

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 38

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 40

43. Tennessee

Downtown Nashville skyline glows astatine dusk down an arched span complete the Cumberland River.

Nashville, Tennessee. Bilanol/Getty Images

Score: 46.80

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 42

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 43

44. Kentucky

Downtown Frankfort and the Kentucky River beryllium among autumn trees nether an orangish sunset sky.

Frankfort, Kentucky. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Score: 45.93

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 45

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 32

45. Nevada

Reno, Nevada.

Reno, Nevada. miroslav_1/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Score: 42.53

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 35

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 49

46. Texas

Downtown Fort Worth, Texas, astatine sunrise. The cityscape features modern skyscrapers reflecting a fiery orangish and purple sky. The Trinity River successful the foreground mirrors the skyline and vibrant clouds. Lush greenish writer and a fewer trees statement the riverbanks, adding a earthy constituent to the municipality scene. Prominent buildings emergence against the horizon, showcasing the architecture of this Texan city.

Fort Worth, Texas. RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Score: 37.95

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 47

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 42

47. Wyoming

Downtown thoroughfare intersection pinch postulation lights, parked cars, storefronts, and a ample “WYOMING HOME” mural.

Cheyenne, Wyoming. Ceri Breeze/Getty Images

Score: 37.79

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 48

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 44

48. Alaska

Ketchikan, Alaska Port

Ketchikan, Alaska. Sophia Zayas/Getty Images

Score: 35.15

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 49

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 34

49. Alabama

Downtown Cullman, Alabama

Cullman, Alabama. Savanah Walker/Getty Images

Score: 34.43

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 43

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 50

50. Oklahoma

Bricktown Canal successful Oklahoma City winds betwixt reddish ceramic buildings and h2o taxis astatine sunset.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Score: 34.18

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 50

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 38

51. Mississippi

Mississippi State Capitol pinch a golden dome stands among trees and downtown Jackson high-rises nether a cloudy sky.

Jackson, Mississippi. CRobertson/Getty Images

Score: 17.54

Children and Teenagers Immunization Rates Rank: 51

Adult & Elderly Vaccination Rates Rank: 51

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Tristin Hoffman is simply a Life Fellow connected Business Insider’s Editorial Partnerships team. Her reporting focuses connected retail, travel, business, and much done a ocular storytelling and manner lens. She has antecedently reported connected Oregon’s system for The Oregonian and Pennsylvania litigation for Law.com. Her stories person inspired argumentation changes, shed ray connected nationalist officials’ misconduct, and gained nationalist awards.  She graduated from the University of Oregon, wherever she studied publicity and rule while serving arsenic editor-in-chief of The Daily Emerald. 

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