Kindergarten vaccine exemptions rose in 2025-2026: CDC

Vaccination rates among American kindergartners decreased during the 2025-2026 school year for all tracked vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control reported on Monday.

• Exemptions from getting one or more vaccines increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia, growing to 4.2% from 3.6% the year before.

Why it matters: The dropoff coincided with continued efforts by the Trump administration to make controversial vaccine policy changes and with measles cases hitting levels not seen in more than three decades.

By the numbers: Coverage with the MMR, DTaP, polio and varicella vaccine decreased in more than half of states, ranging from 92% for diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine to 92.4% for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and polio vaccines.

• The number of kindergartners attending school without documentation of completing the two-dose MMR vaccine series was about 280,000 in 2025-2026, officials said.
• The number of kindergartners exempt from one or more vaccines was about 155,000.
• 24 states reporting exemptions exceeding 5%.

MMR vaccine coverage among kindergartners by state ranged from 98.9% in West Virginia to 75.2% in Idaho.

What they're saying: CDC, in a statement, said the data showed a 0.1% decline in vaccination coverage among children entering kindergarten.

• The agency said it continues to encourage parents to discuss vaccination options with their doctors.

Yes, but: It only takes a small drop in the vaccination rate to make herd immunity against measles plummet.

• The new data also doesn't indicate how many community clusters may actually have seen much greater declines.

Between the lines: Polling shows childhood vaccines remain popular, but administration efforts to upend longstanding vaccine policies could further erode trust in vaccines and public health, medical experts say.

• President Trump last week signed an executive order calling for a slimmed-down childhood vaccine schedule and breaking the MMR vaccine into three separately administered shots.
• It also advises states to review federal vaccine recommendations and update their requirements for school enrollment.
• Capital Alpha Partners analyst Kim Monk wrote in a note Monday that any official vaccine scheduling recommendations or policy changes stemming from the order are expected to be challenged in court.
• "As with past administration attempts to change or influence vaccine schedules, we think it's likely that providers and stakeholder groups will continue to ignore this advice, although these developments certainly don't help with ongoing vaccine hesitancy," Monk wrote.