In recent data released by federal authorities, the trend of declining vaccination rates among U.S. kindergarteners has continued, accompanied by a notable increase in exemptions. Vaccination exemption rates have now climbed to 4.2%, up from 3.6% the previous year. This increase reflects an estimated 155,000 children nationwide during the 2025-2026 school year being exempt from required vaccines.
Despite the push for routine immunizations, the prevalence of nonmedical exemptions has grown, rising steadily in 41 states and the District of Columbia. A significant factor contributing to this change is believed to be the confusion and disruption caused by federal health officials. In particular, criticism has been directed at U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was influential in the antivaccine movement before being appointed by President Donald Trump to oversee federal health agencies.
“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,” said Dr. James Campbell, an expert with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Data from the CDC indicates a decrease in the number of kindergarteners receiving required vaccinations such as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shot, which now stands at 92.4%, compared to pre-pandemic levels of 95%. This decrease has implications for herd immunity, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Vaccination rates have also dropped for other diseases including polio and the combination shot against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, as well as for the chickenpox vaccine. Meanwhile, vaccinations against hepatitis B have remained stable. It is important to note, however, that hepatitis B vaccines are administered shortly after birth. Therefore, recent federal changes to infant hepatitis B vaccine recommendations may not be reflected in current kindergarten vaccination rates.
This report emerges during a challenging year for disease management, with the U.S. experiencing its worst measles outbreak since 1991. Approximately a quarter of a million children entering kindergarten remain vulnerable to measles, particularly in regions with concentrated unvaccinated populations.
The release of this data coincides with a nationwide push from school and health officials urging parents to keep their children up-to-date with vaccinations. Public health campaigns emphasize the vital role of vaccines in protecting children from infectious diseases and helping them remain in school.
Dev Sangvai, Secretary of North Carolina Health and Human Services, stated, “Back-to-school season is an important reminder that protecting our children’s health is both a shared responsibility and a shared goal. Vaccines help keep our children and teens healthy and in the classroom.”
In previous years, the CDC published vaccination coverage data in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Under the Trump administration, the agency has opted to release this information online, accompanied by a succinct statement highlighting the minor decline in coverage and encouraging parental discussions with healthcare providers about vaccinations.
While medical exemption rates have remained constant at about 0.2%, nonmedical exemptions continue to grow. In Idaho, for instance, 17.5% of kindergarten students were exempted from one or more vaccines in the last school year, compared to less than 0.5% in Connecticut.
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