Childhood Vaccine Exemptions Hit Record High as Measles Cases Surge Across U.S.

Childhood vaccine exemptions for medical or religious reasons have hit an all-time high, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the 2025-26 school year, 4.2% of U.S. kindergartners had at least one required vaccine exemption, the highest rate ever recorded. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage among kindergartners fell to 92.4%, a decline from 92.5% in the previous year and well below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity against infectious diseases like measles.

This decline in vaccination rates has coincided with a surge in measles cases, reaching a 35-year high with 2,566 confirmed cases as of August 13, 2026. The CDC attributes the drop in vaccination coverage to a combination of declining national MMR coverage and disruptions to routine doctors' visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump's executive order, which aims to separate the MMR vaccine into three doses and limit other vaccines for children, has raised concerns among health experts about the potential impact on public health.