Kindergarten vaccine exemptions at record, coverage declines

Childhood vaccine exemptions in the United States reached a new record high during the 2025-2026 school year, as overall vaccination coverage for kindergartners inched downward, according to federal data released on August 17, 2026. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the exemption rate rose to 4.2 percent, up from 3.6 percent the previous year, meaning an estimated 155,000 children entered kindergarten with an exemption to one or more required shots.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that the national average for vaccine exemptions has set a new record. Exemptions increased in 41 states and Washington, D.C., with 24 of those states reporting rates exceeding 5 percent. The vast majority of these exemptions are for nonmedical reasons, such as personal or religious beliefs.

At the same time, vaccination coverage for several routine childhood vaccines showed slight declines. Coverage for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine stood at 92.4 percent, while rates for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) and polio vaccines were both at 92 percent. Protection against hepatitis B remained steady at 94 percent. The CDC noted that vaccination rates...