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Rachel V Thomas

US Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Decline, Exemptions Rise as Measles Cases Hit 35-Year High

Amid a rise in infectious diseases, particularly measles, a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that kindergarten vaccination rates declined during the 2025-26 school year.

The report also shows an increase in <span>vaccine exemptions</span> among children.

<h2>Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Decline</h2>

The CDC report showed that coverage for key childhood vaccines, including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP), polio and varicella, decreased in more than half of US states.

<ul><li>DTaP vaccine coverage: 92%</li><li><span rel="noindex">MMR vaccine</span> coverage: 92.4%</li><li>Polio vaccine coverage: 92.4%</li></ul>

The CDC, in a statement, said the data showed a 0.1% decline in vaccination coverage among children entering kindergarten.

Further, the data showed that about 280,000 kindergartners attended school without documentation of completing the MMR vaccine series during the 2025-26 school year.

Exemptions from one or more vaccines among US kindergartners increased to 4.2% during the 2025-26 school year, up from 3.6% in the previous school year, the CDC said.

Exemptions rose in 41 states and Washington, D.C. Of these, 24 states reported exemption rates exceeding 5%. The number of kindergartners exempt from one or more vaccines was about 155,000.

<h2><span rel="noindex">Measles Cases</span> Hit 35-Year High</h2>

The decline in vaccination rates comes amid continued debate over the Donald Trump administration's vaccine policies and controversial changes to childhood vaccination recommendations.

Importantly, the period has seen measles cases reach levels not seen in more than three decades, threatening the US's measles elimination status.

With 38 new outbreaks reported in 2026, there have been 2,566 confirmed measles cases reported in the US as of August 13.

In comparison, a total of 2,289 confirmed measles cases were reported in the US during the full year of 2025. There were 48 outbreaks reported in 2025.

<h2>Children Account for Nearly Half of Measles Cases</h2>

In 2026, nearly 20% of measles cases, or 497 cases, were reported among children under 5 years of age. Of these, 10% were hospitalized due to the highly infectious disease. The highest number of cases was reported among children aged 5 to 19 years, with 1,222 cases, or 48%, followed by adults aged over 20, with 835 cases, or 33%.

In total, 93% of measles cases occurred among people without vaccination, and 7% were hospitalized.

<h2>AAP Warns About Falling Vaccination Rates</h2>

According to public health officials, overall measles vaccination rates should remain above 95% to maintain herd immunity.

"When it comes to vaccination rates, however, anything less than achieving an A+ grade is not good enough. For some diseases like measles, even a small decrease in vaccination rates can lead to more outbreaks of disease because community immunity requires over 95% of susceptible individuals to be immunized," said Dr. Andrew Racine, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in a statement.

He added, "This risk is real: The United States is experiencing a 35-year high for measles cases as federal officials continue to elevate misleading and disproven information about vaccines, inserting unnecessary fear and confusion into families’ decision-making. And we are seeing the results. More than a quarter of a million children started kindergarten last year without protection from the MMR vaccine."

Meanwhile, Trump signed an executive order last week calling for fewer childhood vaccinations by limiting the inoculation schedule to 11 immunizations. The order also recommended splitting the MMR vaccine into three shots taken at separate visits.

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US Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Decline

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Amid a rise in infectious diseases, particularly measles, a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that kindergarten vaccination rates declined during the 2025-26 school year.The report also shows an increase in vaccine exemptions among children.Kindergarten Vaccination Rates DeclineThe CDC report showed that coverage for key childhood vaccines, including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP), polio and varicella, decreased in more than half of US states.DTaP vaccine coverage: 92%MMR vaccine coverage: 92.4%Polio vaccine coverage: 92.4%The CDC, in a statement, said the data showed a 0.1% decline in vaccination coverage among children entering kindergarten.Further, the data showed that about 280,000 kindergartners attended school without documentation of completing the MMR vaccine series during the 2025-26 school year.Vaccine Exemptions RiseExemptions from one or more vaccines among US kindergartners increased to 4.2% during the 2025-26 school year, up from 3.6% in the previous school year, the CDC said.Exemptions rose in 41 states and Washington, D.C. Of these, 24 states reported exemption rates exceeding 5%. The number of kindergartners exempt from one or more vaccines was about 155,000.Measles Cases Hit 35-Year HighThe decline in vaccination rates comes amid continued debate over the Donald Trump administration's vaccine policies and controversial changes to childhood vaccination recommendations.Importantly, the period has seen measles cases reach levels not seen in more than three decades, threatening the US's measles elimination status.With 38 new outbreaks reported in 2026, there have been 2,566 confirmed measles cases reported in the US as of August 13.In comparison, a total of 2,289 confirmed measles cases were reported in the US during the full year of 2025. There were 48 outbreaks reported in 2025.Children Account for Nearly Half of Measles CasesIn 2026, nearly 20% of measles cases, or 497 cases, were reported among children under 5 years of age. Of these, 10% were hospitalized due to the highly infectious disease. The highest number of cases was reported among children aged 5 to 19 years, with 1,222 cases, or 48%, followed by adults aged over 20, with 835 cases, or 33%.In total, 93% of measles cases occurred among people without vaccination, and 7% were hospitalized.AAP Warns About Falling Vaccination RatesAccording to public health officials, overall measles vaccination rates should remain above 95% to maintain herd immunity."When it comes to vaccination rates, however, anything less than achieving an A+ grade is not good enough. For some diseases like measles, even a small decrease in vaccination rates can lead to more outbreaks of disease because community immunity requires over 95% of susceptible individuals to be immunized," said Dr. Andrew Racine, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in a statement.He added, "This risk is real: The United States is experiencing a 35-year high for measles cases as federal officials continue to elevate misleading and disproven information about vaccines, inserting unnecessary fear and confusion into families’ decision-making. And we are seeing the results. More than a quarter of a million children started kindergarten last year without protection from the MMR vaccine."Meanwhile, Trump signed an executive order last week calling for fewer childhood vaccinations by limiting the inoculation schedule to 11 immunizations. The order also recommended splitting the MMR vaccine into three shots taken at separate visits.

us kindergarten vaccination rates decline, exemptions rise as measles cases hit 35-year high

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