Kindergarten vaccine exemptions hit all time high

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported on Monday that kindergarten vaccination rates in America declined during the 2025-2026 school year for all tracked vaccines. The exemption rates for getting one or more vaccines increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia, rising to 4.2% from 3.6% the previous year. The decrease in vaccination coverage coincided with efforts by the Trump administration to alter vaccine policies and with a spike in measles cases, which had not been seen in over three decades.

Coverage with the MMR, DTaP, polio, and varicella vaccines decreased in more than half of states, ranging from 92% for the DTaP vaccine to 92.4% for the MMR and polio vaccines. Approximately 280,000 kindergartners attended school without completing the two-dose MMR vaccine series, while about 155,000 kindergartners were exempt from one or more vaccines.

Twenty-four states reported exemptions exceeding 5%. The MMR vaccine coverage among kindergartners in states ranged from 98.9% in West Virginia to 75.2% in Idaho. The CDC emphasized the need for parents to discuss vaccination options with their doctors. However, the drop in vaccination rate could significantly impact herd immunity against measles, and the data does not indicate the extent of declines in individual communities.

Polling suggests that, despite remaining popularity, administration attempts to alter vaccine policies could further undermine trust in vaccines and public health. President Trump signed an executive order last week advocating for a simplified childhood vaccine schedule and allowing states to revise federal vaccine recommendations for school enrollment.