National vaccination coverage for kindergarteners slipped again this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The measles‑mumps‑rubella (MMR) rate fell to 92.4% for the 2025‑26 school year, down from 93% the prior year and well below the pre‑COVID level of 95% that historically kept outbreaks at bay.
More strikingly, the share of children with exemptions rose to 4.2%, up from 3.6% the year before. That translates to roughly 155,000 kindergarteners nationwide who are not fully immunized for key diseases. The increase marks the fourth consecutive year that exemption rates have set new records, and the rise occurred in 41 states and the District of Columbia.
Why exemptions are climbing
Public‑health experts point to growing confusion over vaccine guidance. Dr. James Campbell of the American Academy of Pediatrics said the “root cause” is the “chaos and confusion in vaccination recommendation systems” over the past year. Federal officials, including U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have advocated for changes to childhood‑vaccine schedules, promoting the idea that shots should be spaced out over multiple visits—a stance that many medical professionals consider unsupported by evidence.
President Donald Trump, who appointed Kennedy to lead federal health agencies, recently called for revised vaccination recommendations that align with this theory. The CDC’s latest statement on the data was brief, noting the slight decline and urging parents to discuss vaccination options with their doctors.
Impact on public health
With measles rates at their worst since 1991, the CDC warns that more than a quarter‑million children entering kindergarten are now susceptible to the disease. While unvaccinated children are not evenly distributed across the country, clusters in certain areas increase the risk of localized outbreaks.
Vaccination rates also slipped for polio, the diphtheria‑tetanus‑pertussis (DTaP) combination, and the first dose of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. Protection against hepatitis B held steady, but recent federal proposals to alter infant hepatitis B recommendations could affect future kindergarten data.
State and local responses
State health officials are urging parents to vaccinate as the new school year begins. North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai emphasized that “protecting our children’s health is both a shared responsibility and a shared goal.” Many states continue to require vaccinations for school attendance, allowing exemptions only for medical reasons or, in most cases, for religious or other non‑medical reasons.
Idaho reported the highest non‑medical exemption rate at 17.5% of kindergarteners, while Connecticut’s rate remained below 0.5%. The disparity underscores the importance of local outreach and parental education.
Looking ahead
Public‑health officials stress that maintaining high vaccination coverage is essential to prevent disease clusters and protect community health. As the debate over vaccine policy continues at the federal level, parents, schools, and health providers will play a critical role in safeguarding children’s well‑being.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
