Kindergarten vaccination falls while vaccine exemptions rise

Kindergarten vaccination rates declined slightly last year while exemptions increased, according to new CDC data, widening the gap between current immunization levels and pre-pandemic rates as the U.S. experiences its highest measles case count in 35 years.

What you’ll learn

• How vaccination rates for measles, mumps and rubella, polio and diphtheria changed during the 2025-2026 school year
• Why vaccine exemptions rose to 4.2 percent and what declining coverage could mean for preventing outbreaks
• How the Trump administration’s vaccine policies and messaging are adding to concerns among public health experts about confidence in childhood immunizations

Why this matters

Falling vaccination rates and rising exemptions could have significant implications for disease prevention, public health policy and state and federal immunization efforts. POLITICO Pro helps health care professionals track the policy decisions, public health data and political developments shaping vaccination policy and the broader health care landscape.

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