- Vaccine exemption rates among kindergartners hit an all-time high of 4.2% in the 2025-26 school year, nearly double the rate from 2020-21.
- Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine coverage fell to 92.4%, below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.
- Idaho leads the nation with a 17.5% exemption rate, while California, New York and West Virginia report rates as low as 0.1%.
- Parents cite growing skepticism, expanded vaccine schedules and eroded trust in government messaging as reasons for seeking exemptions.
- The CDC has softened its response, encouraging doctor-parent dialogue rather than mandates, amid ongoing policy debates.
A growing number of American families are choosing to exempt their children from school-entry vaccines, pushing exemption rates to an all-time high. The new federal data, released Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveals a widening gap between public health recommendations and parental choices.
The CDC's latest report shows that 4.2% of kindergartners entered the 2025-26 school year without at least one required vaccine, up from 3.6% the previous year and nearly double the 2.2% rate recorded in 2020-21. That translates to roughly 155,000 children nationwide. Most of these exemptions were granted for non-medical reasons, including religious beliefs or personal objections.
MMR coverage drops below critical threshold
The most striking finding concerns the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Only 92.4% of kindergartners received the MMR shot during the 2025-26 school year, a figure well short of the 95% coverage doctors consider the floor for herd immunity.
Coverage declined across nearly every vaccine the CDC tracks. The DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, slipped from 92.1% to 92%. Chickenpox (varicella) protection also dipped, edging down to 93.4% from 94% the year before. Hepatitis B rates remained steady. The CDC also found that about 280,000 kindergartners started the school year with no record of finishing the two required MMR doses.
State-by-state breakdown reveals big disparities
The data shows dramatic variation across the country. Idaho posted the nation's highest exemption rate, 17.5%, with Utah, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada close behind. On the other end of the spectrum, California, New York and West Virginia all recorded exemption rates as low as 0.1%, with Connecticut and Maine not far off.
These disparities reflect differing state policies. Twenty-four states now report exemption rates above 5%, according to the CDC. States generally set their own school vaccine requirements, and some have made it easier than others for parents to claim non-medical exemptions.
A question of trust and informed choice
The rise in exemptions reflects a growing skepticism among some parents about the benefits and risks of childhood vaccines. Many families have become wary of a vaccination schedule that has expanded significantly over the years, with concerns about potential side effects and the long-term health implications of receiving multiple vaccines at once. The COVID-19 pandemic further eroded trust in government health messaging, as many Americans questioned the accuracy and consistency of official guidance.
Some experts argue the modest decline in vaccination rates does not warrant alarm. Dr. Robert Malone, former vice chair of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, told Fox News Digital that there is "nothing in this data to panic about," emphasizing that vaccination rates remain strong overall and that measles outbreaks are occurring globally, not just in the United States.
For many parents, the decision to seek exemptions stems from a desire to make informed choices about their children's health without government coercion. They point to the principle of bodily autonomy and the right of families to weigh medical interventions based on their own research and values.
A collision of public health goals and parental rights
The CDC's response to the data has been notably measured. Rather than issuing an urgent call for increased vaccination, the agency said it "continues to encourage parents to discuss vaccination options with their doctors." This softer approach reflects a shift in federal messaging, with health officials acknowledging that parents deserve respectful dialogue rather than mandates.
The debate comes at a time of broader policy changes. President Donald Trump recently directed federal health officials to consider separating the combined MMR shot into three individual vaccines and spreading childhood immunizations across more visits — a move that aligns with some parental concerns about the current schedule.
As the nation's debate about vaccine policy continues, the underlying question remains: how do we balance collective public health goals with individual family autonomy? The record exemption rates suggest that many parents have already made their answer clear: they want greater choice when it comes to what goes into their children's bodies. Whether public health officials and policymakers will accommodate that demand remains to be seen.
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