Vaccination rates among American kindergartners decreased during the 2025-2026 school year for all tracked vaccines, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on August 17, 2026. Exemptions from receiving one or more vaccines increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia, rising to 4.2% from 3.6% the previous year.
Coverage for the MMR, DTaP, polio, and varicella vaccines decreased in more than half of the states, with rates ranging from 92% for the DTaP vaccine to 92.4% for the MMR and polio vaccines. Approximately 280,000 kindergartners attended school without documentation of completing the two-dose MMR vaccine series, and about 155,000 kindergartners were exempt from one or more vaccines. Additionally, 24 states reported exemptions exceeding 5%.
MMR vaccine coverage among kindergartners varied by state, with West Virginia at 98.9% and Idaho at 75.2%. The CDC stated that the data indicated a 0.1% decline in vaccination coverage among children entering kindergarten and continues to encourage parents to discuss vaccination options with their healthcare providers.
Experts noted that even a small drop in vaccination rates could significantly impact herd immunity against measles. The report did not specify how many community clusters may have experienced greater declines in vaccination rates. Polling indicates that childhood vaccines remain popular, but recent administration efforts to change vaccine policies could potentially undermine public trust in vaccines and public health initiatives. President Trump recently signed an executive order to modify the childhood vaccine schedule and separate the MMR vaccine into three individual shots, advising states to review and update their vaccine requirements for school enrollment. Analyst Kim Monk from Capital Alpha Partners commented that any resulting vaccine scheduling recommendations or policy changes are likely to face legal challenges.