Federal health data released Monday reveal a modest decline in kindergarten vaccination coverage for the 2025‑26 school year and a new peak in nonmedical exemptions. The exemption rate climbed to 4.2%, up from 3.6% the previous year, representing an estimated 155,000 children nationwide who are not receiving required immunizations.
National trends and state variations
The drop marks the fourth consecutive year that the national average exemption rate has set a new record. Exemptions increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia. While medical exemptions have remained steady at about 0.2%, nonmedical exemptions continue to rise, with Idaho reporting the highest state figure at 17.5% and Connecticut at less than 0.5%.
Vaccination coverage details
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 92.4% of kindergarteners received the measles‑mumps‑rubella (MMR) vaccine, down from the previous year’s rate. Before the COVID‑19 pandemic, the national coverage level hovered around 95%, the threshold generally considered sufficient to prevent widespread outbreaks.
Coverage also slipped for the polio vaccine, the combined diphtheria‑tetanus‑pertussis (DTaP) series, and the first dose of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccination rates held steady, but those numbers reflect a birth‑time vaccine and may not yet reflect recent federal guidance changes.
Public‑health context
Experts attribute the trend to confusion and policy shifts at the federal level. Dr. James Campbell of the American Academy of Pediatrics noted that “the root cause of this is primarily because there’s so much chaos and confusion in vaccination recommendation systems in the last year or so.” The CDC’s brief statement this year simply encouraged parents to discuss vaccination options with their doctors.
The decline comes as the United States experiences its worst measles year since 1991. More than a quarter of a million kindergarten entrants remain susceptible to measles, according to Campbell, a University of Maryland researcher and chair of the AAP’s infectious‑diseases committee. Geographic clustering of unvaccinated children contributes to uneven measles risk across the country.
State and local responses
State health officials are urging parents to vaccinate as the new school year begins. North Carolina’s Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai emphasized that “vaccines help keep our children and teens healthy and in the classroom.” All states and territories require school‑age children to receive core immunizations, but most also permit exemptions for religious or other nonmedical reasons.
School and health officials continue to stress the shared responsibility of protecting children’s health, especially in school environments where germs can spread rapidly. The CDC’s data, traditionally published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, are now posted online, reflecting a shift in communication strategy under the current administration.
Looking ahead
Public‑health leaders warn that continued growth in nonmedical exemptions could undermine herd immunity and increase the likelihood of outbreaks. Parents are encouraged to consult pediatricians and consider the broader community impact of vaccination decisions.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
