Vaccination exemption rates for US kindergartners reach record high - WLWT
CDC data indicates that vaccination rates for US kindergartners have declined, with nonmedical exemptions reaching a record high of 4%. This trend coincides with recent executive actions aimed at modifying child vaccination guidelines.
Why it matters
Declining vaccination rates threaten herd immunity, increasing the risk of outbreaks for preventable diseases like measles.
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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