The percentage of kindergarten students in the United States exempted from the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine increased significantly in the 2025-26 school year. New federal data shows the exemption rate rose to 4.2% from 3.6% the previous year. At the same time, overall vaccination coverage for essential vaccines, including DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis), poliovirus, and varicella (chicken pox) declined slightly.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 92.4% of students received the MMR vaccine. This is below the 95% threshold required to prevent widespread outbreaks. The U.S. is experiencing its most severe measles epidemic in 35 years. The vaccination coverage rate, once 95.2% in the pre-pandemic 2019-20 school year, has since fallen below 94%.
All states and the District of Columbia mandate vaccinations for specific diseases, like measles and rubella, for public school attendance. However, exemptions are allowed for religious or philosophical reasons. The data reveals a rise in families opting for non-medical exemptions across more states. The CDC warns that these pockets of undervaccinated children could lead to outbreaks even in areas with high vaccination coverage.
The decline in vaccine coverage coincides with efforts by the Trump administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to revise federal vaccination policies. This is amidst contention over COVID-19 vaccine mandates and distrust in public health authorities. Last week, CDC reported over 2,500 measles cases, surpassing the entire total of 2025, with 93% being unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s executive order suggesting the MMR vaccine be divided into three separate appointments has been met with criticism from the pharmaceutical industry. Drugmakers argue the directive lacks scientific evidence and have condemned the proposal.
Other health-related issues are also in focus. Cyclospora outbreaks with unconfirmed sources have expanded. The FDA reports a rise in cases, linked in part to iceberg lettuce affecting new states. The CDC reports nearly 14,000 cyclospora cases since May.
U.S. Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Decline as Exemptions Reach New Highs 
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