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US Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Fall as Exemptions Reach Record High
U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates have declined for the 2025-2026 school year, with coverage falling for every vaccine routinely tracked by the CDC. National MMR coverage reached 92.4 percent, and DTaP coverage was 92.0 percent, both falling below the 95 percent threshold recommended by health officials to prevent community outbreaks.
Vaccine exemptions reached a record high of 4.2 percent, affecting approximately 155,000 children. This increase in exemptions occurred in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Experts, including Dr. James Campbell of the American Academy of Pediatrics, attribute the rise in nonmedical exemptions to chaos and confusion within vaccination recommendation systems.
Some reports highlight political influence on these trends, noting that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has overhauled vaccine schedules and replaced CDC advisory personnel. Conversely, former CDC advisor Dr. Robert Malone downplayed the significance of the decline, stating that compliance remains in the high single digits and is not a cause for alarm.
Entities
American Academy of Pediatrics · Andrew Racine · CDC · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Donald Trump · James Campbell · Robert F. Kennedy Jr. · Robert Malone · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 95 percent immunization is required for community immunity against diseases like measles.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Kindergarten vaccine exemptions rose to 4.2 percent during the 2025-2026 school year. www.medicaldaily.com · www.edweek.org
- [● 10 SOURCES] The increase in exemptions is primarily due to chaos and confusion in vaccination recommendation systems. www.edweek.org · praisehouston.com · classixphilly.com · getuperica.com · 1053rnb.com · +5 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The DTaP vaccination rate for 2025-2026 kindergarteners was 92.0 percent. www.medicaldaily.com · www.world-today-news.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] MMR, DTaP, polio, and varicella coverage fell in more than half of states. www.medicaldaily.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Exemptions increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia. www.medicaldaily.com · www.edweek.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Vaccination coverage fell for every vaccine the CDC routinely tracks. www.medicaldaily.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The MMR vaccination rate for 2025-2026 kindergarteners was 92.4 percent. www.medicaldaily.com · www.edweek.org · cdispatch.com · www.world-today-news.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine coverage was 92.0 percent. www.medicaldaily.com · www.edweek.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The United States has recorded the highest number of measles cases in 35 years.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Kindergarten vaccination coverage fell for every vaccine the CDC routinely tracks during the 2025-2026 school year. www.medicaldaily.com · www.edweek.org
- [● 12 SOURCES] Approximately 155,000 children started kindergarten with an exemption from at least one required vaccine. www.medicaldaily.com · www.edweek.org · praisehouston.com · classixphilly.com · getuperica.com · +7 more