US school vaccination rates inch down yet again and exemptions reach record high

August 17, 2026 - 21:27

The share of American kindergarteners fully vaccinated against common childhood diseases has dropped for yet another school year, while the number of families opting out has climbed to an all-time peak. According to fresh federal data released this week, coverage for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), as well as for other required shots, fell to roughly 92.7 percent for the 2023-2024 school year. That is down from about 93.1 percent the year before and marks the fourth consecutive annual decline.

At the same time, the proportion of kindergartners with at least one vaccine exemption rose to 3.3 percent, a record since the CDC began tracking this measure. That figure includes both medical and non-medical exemptions, with the latter covering religious, philosophical, or personal belief reasons. The data, drawn from state and local immunization programs, also shows that another 3.9 percent of children were not fully vaccinated but did not have a documented exemption, meaning they may be catching up on shots or are behind schedule.

Public health officials are increasingly worried. The CDC's target for kindergarten vaccination coverage is 95 percent, a threshold that provides herd immunity and helps prevent outbreaks of highly contagious diseases like measles. The current level is the lowest in over a decade, and it leaves many communities vulnerable. Already this year, the country has seen a significant measles outbreak in Ohio and scattered cases elsewhere, mostly involving unvaccinated children.

The reasons for the slide are complex. Some families faced missed well-child visits during the pandemic and never caught up. Others have been influenced by misinformation about vaccine safety, which has spread widely on social media. A growing number of states have also made it easier to claim non-medical exemptions, and a few have even considered banning vaccine requirements altogether. The CDC stresses that vaccines remain safe and effective, and that the best way to protect children is to follow the recommended schedule. But with each passing year, the gap between the ideal and the reality grows wider, and the risk of preventable disease outbreaks becomes more tangible.