What You Need to Know
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a rise in vaccine exemptions among U.S. kindergartners.
• During the 2025-26 school year, 4.2% of kindergartners had vaccine exemptions, up from 3.6% the previous year.
• The U.S. recorded 2,566 measles cases in 2026, marking a 35-year high in infections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the number of parents in the United States opting not to vaccinate their children increased significantly during the 2025-26 school year. Specifically, 4.2% of kindergartners, approximately 155,000 children, received at least one vaccine exemption, a rise from 3.6% the prior year. Most exemptions were categorized as “non-medical,” indicating personal or religious reasons rather than health concerns. This trend has been linked to growing resistance to school vaccine mandates that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the CDC noted that 41 states and Washington, D.C., reported increases in exemptions, with Ohio’s rate reaching 5.7%. The decline in vaccination rates has contributed to a significant rise in measles cases, with nearly all diagnosed individuals this year being unvaccinated.
Why It Matters
This increase in vaccine exemptions is significant as it reflects a broader trend of vaccine hesitancy that has developed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC’s data highlights the potential public health risks associated with declining vaccination rates, particularly concerning measles, which requires a 95% vaccination rate to prevent outbreaks. The current situation threatens the United States’ status of having eliminated measles, achieved in 2000, as the country faces ongoing outbreaks in multiple states. The rise in exemptions and the corresponding increase in measles cases underscore the importance of effective public health messaging regarding vaccinations.
Read the Full Story →
