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Part of situation: Global measles resurgence and US reporting disputes (119 clusters)

US kindergarten vaccine exemptions reach record 4.2%

vaccine exemptions kindergarten vaccination rates measles outbreak CDC data public health policy

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that childhood vaccine exemptions for kindergartners in the United States reached a record high of 4.2% during the 2025-26 school year, up from 3.6% the previous year. This increase affects approximately 155,000 children. The vast majority of these exemptions are for non-medical reasons, such as personal or religious beliefs, rather than health concerns.

Exemptions increased in 41 states and Washington, D.C. This trend coincides with a significant decline in routine vaccination coverage. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination rates for kindergartners fell to 92.4%, which is below the 95% threshold required to maintain herd immunity and prevent outbreaks. Other declining rates include polio and DTaP vaccines.

Public health experts attribute this shift to confusion and changing guidance from federal health officials. Recent executive actions by President Donald Trump have sought to reduce the number of recommended childhood vaccines and suggested spacing out shots into separate visits, a move criticized by medical professionals. The decline in immunity has contributed to a surge in measles cases, with 2,566 cases reported in the U.S. so far in 2026, marking a 35-year high.

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 many sources carry each claim.

Sources

Childhood vaccine exemptions for personal or religious reasons hit new record [hbcunews.com]
School vaccination exemption rates among kindergartners rise to new highs [offthepress.com]
US school vaccination rates inch down yet again and exemptions reach record high [www.kaaltv.com]
Childhood Vaccination Rates Are Dropping -What Parents Need To Know [onlinemarketingscoops.com]
Measles cases in 2026 surpass Oregon’s peak measles year [kiowacountypress.net]
Vaccination rates for US students entering kindergarten fall as exemptions climb to a new high [www.fox5atlanta.com]
School Vaccination Rates Hit Record Low, Exemptions New High [internewscast.com]
Childhood vaccine exemptions for personal or religious reasons hit new record [www.nbcnews.com]
Measles outbreak confirmed in western Kentucky [www.wkms.org]
Childhood vaccine exemptions hit record high, nearly doubling in five years [san.com]
More US parents opting children out of vaccine requirements, CDC reports [www.westhawaiitoday.com]
School vaccination exemption rates among kindergartners rise to new highs [justthenews.com]
Cassidy's kids - Lawyers, Guns & Money [www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com]
US school vaccination rates inch down yet again and exemptions reach record high [www.wishtv.com]
Supera el sarampión los 2,500 casos y 38 brotes en EU, la mayor cifra en 35 años [vanguardia.com.mx]
CDC: Childhood Religious Vax Exemptions At New High [www.joemygod.com]
School vaccination rates inch down again to record low as exemptions reach new high [www.cbsnews.com]
Vaccination Rates Steady Among Kindergartners, CDC Says [www.ntd.com]
US school vaccination rates inch down yet again and exemptio. . . [www.semissourian.com]
Vacunación infantil en EE. UU. cae mientras aumentan brotes de sarampión [eltiempomx.com]
Childhood vaccine exemptions rose to record high last school year, CDC says [www.phillyvoice.com]
US School Vaccination Rates Inch Down Yet Again And Exemptions Reach Record High [www.theyeshivaworld.com]
Childhood vaccination rates continue to fall, including in the Midwest [www.fox9.com]
US school vaccination rates inch down yet again and exemptions reach record high [www.troyrecord.com]
Record share of kindergartners missed required vaccines last year as Trump executive order takes aim at state mandates [kesq.com]
US school vaccination rates inch down yet again and exemptions reach record high [www.winnipegfreepress.com]
U. S. school vaccination rates inch down yet again and exemptions reach record high [triblive.com]
Measles Used to Be in Our Rearview Mirror. Now Cases Are Reaching Record Highs. [www.propublica.org]
US vaccination rates fall again as exemptions continue to rise, CDC data shows [arstechnica.com]