Kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump to another record high

The new CDC data released this week shows a continuing decline in childhood vaccination rates and rise in exemption rates.

Vaccination rates among American kindergartners decreased during the 2025-2026 school year for all tracked vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control reported on Monday. Exemptions from getting one or more vaccines increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia, growing to 4.2% from 3.6% the year before. Why it m