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US kindergarten vaccination rates decline as exemptions hit record high
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates have declined, while vaccine exemptions have reached a record high. For the 2025-26 school year, approximately 4.2% of kindergarteners—about 155,000 children—had at least one vaccine exemption, up from 3.6% the previous year. The vast majority of these are non-medical exemptions based on personal or religious beliefs, while medical exemptions remained stable at 0.2%.
Vaccination coverage for several key diseases has fallen below the 95% threshold required to prevent community outbreaks. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination rate was reported at 92.4%, and coverage for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) was at 92.0%. Hepatitis B vaccination rates remained steady at 94%.
Public health experts attribute the trend to confusion and changing guidance from federal health officials. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump have introduced moves to revise childhood vaccination recommendations, including an executive order aimed at maximizing parental choice and providing more options for vaccine spacing. These shifts have drawn criticism from pediatricians and public health advocates who warn of increased risks for disease outbreaks.
Entities
American Academy of Pediatrics · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Donald Trump · Robert F. Kennedy Jr. · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 11 SOURCES] The share of kindergarteners with at least one vaccine exemption rose to 4.2% for the 2025-26 school year, up from 3.6% the previous year. onlinemarketingscoops.com · www.kaaltv.com · www.nbcnews.com · www.cbsnews.com · www.joemygod.com · +6 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Vaccine exemptions increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia. www.kaaltv.com · www.nbcnews.com · www.cbsnews.com · www.joemygod.com · kesq.com · +1 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines. www.nbcnews.com · www.joemygod.com · kesq.com
- [● 11 SOURCES] Approximately 155,000 children nationally had vaccine exemptions during the 2025-26 school year. onlinemarketingscoops.com · www.kaaltv.com · www.nbcnews.com · www.cbsnews.com · www.joemygod.com · +6 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] The vaccination rate for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) among 2025-26 kindergarteners was 92.4%. onlinemarketingscoops.com · www.kaaltv.com · www.nbcnews.com · www.cbsnews.com · www.joemygod.com · +6 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has attempted to revise and reduce childhood vaccination guidance. www.kaaltv.com · www.cbsnews.com · www.troyrecord.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among kindergartners remained steady at 94 percent. www.kaaltv.com · www.ntd.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] The majority of vaccine exemptions are non-medical, based on personal or religious reasons. www.kaaltv.com · www.nbcnews.com · www.cbsnews.com · www.joemygod.com · kesq.com · +1 more