Kindergarten Vaccination Decline as Exemptions Reach Peak Levels

Vaccination coverage among kindergarten-aged children in the U.S. has seen a decline, coinciding with an increase in vaccination exemptions, reaching unprecedented levels.

Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that during the 2024-2025 school year, fewer kindergarteners were immunized for the vaccines typically administered, compared to the prior year.

The statistics show that approximately 92.1% of kindergarteners received the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (known as DTaP), and about 92.5% were vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), as well as polio. These rates represent a slight decline from the previous academic year.

This drop in vaccination coverage comes as the U.S. contends with the highest number of certain infections seen in over three decades. A notable outbreak in West Texas, mainly affecting the young and mostly unvaccinated population, significantly contributed to this spike.

Experts highlight that the likelihood of disease outbreaks increases when vaccination coverage diminishes, noting that these recent statistics align with this trend.

Rise in Exemptions

The number of vaccination exemptions for kindergarteners also surged to a new high during this period, with the percentage rising from 3.3% to 3.6%.

A total of 36 states, along with the District of Columbia, reported an increase in exemptions, with 17 of these states noting that exemptions exceeded the 5% threshold, as stated by the CDC.

In addressing the surge of measles cases earlier this year, Dr. Céline Gounder, a medical contributor for CBS News and a public health editor, voiced her concerns regarding the unwarranted reluctance toward vaccinations observed nationwide.

She emphasized the importance of the MMR vaccine, explaining that it offers lifelong protection against measles, one of the highly infectious diseases, and reaffirmed its safety and effectiveness as endorsed by medical professionals and public health authorities.