The share of U.S. kindergartners with exemptions from one or more school vaccine requirements reached 4.2% during the 2025–2026 school year, according to new CDC data. That was up from 3.6% the previous year and represents approximately 155,000 children. Exemption rates increased in 41 states and Washington, D.C., while 24 states reported rates above 5%.
Vaccination coverage also declined slightly for every vaccine reported by the CDC. Coverage for the two-dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccine fell to 92.4%. CDC estimates that about 280,000 kindergartners attended school without documentation that they had completed the MMR series during the 2025–2026 school year.
The decline comes during a major resurgence of measles in the United States. As of September 10, 2026, the CDC had recorded 3,294 confirmed cases during 2026, including 38 newly reported outbreaks. About 95% of confirmed cases were associated with outbreaks. The figures remain preliminary and can change as additional cases are reported.
Measles is highly contagious, which is why vaccination coverage is particularly important. CDC says community immunity generally protects most people when coverage exceeds 95%, but national averages can hide local pockets with substantially lower vaccination levels. School vaccination requirements and the exemptions available also differ by state.
