US Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Decline Again

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data released on Monday indicates a further decline in US kindergarten vaccination rates for the 2025–2026 school year, continuing a downward trend observed since the 2019–2020 academic period. This marks a significant departure from the approximately 95 percent vaccination coverage previously achieved, a benchmark considered crucial for maintaining community immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases. The latest figures highlight a growing distance from this public health target.

Specifically, the data shows that only 92.4 percent of kindergartners received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine during the 2025–2026 school year. This represents a decrease from the 92.5 percent coverage reported in the preceding year. Similarly, vaccination rates for the DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (commonly known as whooping cough), also experienced a dip. Coverage for the DTaP vaccine fell from 92.1 percent in the previous school year to 92.0 percent in the 2025–2026 period. These incremental yet consistent decreases in vaccination coverage are a cause for concern among public health officials.

The observed decline in vaccination rates is often linked to an increase in vaccine exemptions. While the specific data on exemptions for the 2025-2026 school year was not detailed in the provided excerpt, previous trends suggest a correlation between falling vaccination rates and rising numbers of children receiving non-medical exemptions from school-required immunizations. These exemptions, which can be philosophical, religious, or medical, vary in availability and stringency by state, contributing to a complex and fragmented landscape of vaccine access across the country. The CDC's findings underscore the ongoing challenge of maintaining high vaccination coverage in the face of these factors.

The implications of these declining vaccination rates extend to the broader goal of herd immunity. When vaccination coverage falls below the 95 percent threshold for diseases like measles, the risk of outbreaks increases. Measles, in particular, is highly contagious, and a decrease in herd immunity can lead to a resurgence of cases, potentially impacting vulnerable populations, including infants too young to be vaccinated and individuals with compromised immune systems. The CDC's continued monitoring of these trends is essential for informing public health strategies aimed at reversing this decline and safeguarding community health against preventable diseases.