US Vaccination Rates Fall as Exemptions Rise, CDC Data Shows
New data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a continued decline in childhood vaccination rates, with coverage falling below 95% for key vaccines. Simultaneously, vaccine exemptions are on the rise.
Data released Monday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a further decrease in vaccination rates among US kindergarteners for the 2025–2026 school year.
The figures indicate a continuing downward trend in vaccination coverage since the 2019–2020 school year, when the US had achieved approximately 95 percent coverage. This threshold is considered critical for preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases within communities. The latest data suggests the nation is moving further away from this target.
Nationally, only 92.4 percent of kindergartners received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine during the 2025–2026 school year, a decrease from 92.5 percent last year. Coverage for the DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis, also saw a slight drop from 92.1 percent to 92.0 percent.
Health officials are concerned by the declining vaccination rates coupled with an increase in vaccine exemptions. While exemptions can be granted for religious, philosophical, or medical reasons, a rise in their numbers can weaken herd immunity and increase the risk of disease outbreaks.