Vaccination exemption rates for US kindergartners reach record high - WESH
CDC data indicates that vaccination exemption rates for U.S. kindergartners have reached record highs, with 4% of students receiving nonmedical exemptions. This trend coincides with a recent executive order from President Trump aimed at revising vaccination guidelines.
Why it matters
Declining vaccination rates pose a significant public health risk, as evidenced by the rise in measles cases, which have reached their highest levels since 1991.
The rate of kindergartners getting vaccinated declined again last year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There was also an increase in exemptions for at least one vaccine, driven by a record amount of nonmedical exemptions, which reached a rate of 4% nationwide. The data was released Monday by the agency and includes vaccination rates for kindergartners during the 2025 to 2026 school year. The data released includes vaccination rates for the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), DTaP, polio and chickenpox vaccinations. Included in the data is a state breakdown of vaccination and exemption rates.
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