• U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates have fallen for the fifth consecutive year.
• Exemptions to vaccinations have reached an all-time high of 3.6%.
• The CDC reported increases in measles cases, the highest since 1992.
• Vaccination coverage has dropped below the herd immunity threshold of 95%.
• Experts warn that the increase in exemptions may lead to more outbreaks.

Vaccination rates among U.S. kindergartners declined in the 2024-2025 school year, marking the fifth consecutive year of falling coverage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that only 92.5% of kindergartners received the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR), down from earlier years, while other essential vaccinations like diphtheria and polio also saw declines. These rates fell below the crucial 95% threshold for herd immunity, even as the U.S. confronts rising measles outbreaks, the highest since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, according to Reuters, CBS News, and ABC News.

The increasing exemptions for vaccinations also present a serious challenge, rising to an all-time high of 3.6%, according to federal data. These exemptions were granted on non-medical grounds, primarily religious or personal reasons, in 36 states across the country. Health experts estimate that this translates to approximately 138,000 kindergarteners exempt from one or more vaccines. This trend correlates with a rise in measles cases, particularly in West Texas, where many infected were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination statuses, as highlighted by Reuters and CBS News.

Experts express concern that the growing number of exemptions and declining vaccination rates may create environments conducive to larger outbreaks of contagious diseases. Dr. John Brownstein indicated that “the gap, combined with concentrated pockets of exemptions, is exactly how sustained outbreaks gain a foothold,” warning that persistent declines in vaccination predict conditions for more frequent outbreaks. The urgency is echoed by public health officials, who emphasize the importance of immunization in community health, as noted by CBS News and ABC News.

Federal health officials and experts are concerned that the shift in messaging around vaccination, now emphasizing personal choice over community protection, may further fuel hesitancy and legitimize non-medical exemptions. "When federal leadership softens its stance on vaccination, it can accelerate hesitancy," highlighted Dr. Susan Kressly, advocating for broader access to immunizations to maintain public health safety, according to CBS News and ABC News.