AXIOS (Adriel Bettelheim) - Kindergarten vaccine exemptions rose in 2025-2026: CDC
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 matters: The dropoff coincided with continued efforts by the Trump administration to make controversial vaccine policy changes and with measles cases hitting levels not seen in more than three decades. By the numbers: Coverage with the MMR, DTaP, polio and varicella vaccine decreased in more than half of states, ranging from 92% for diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine to 92.4% for the measles,…