A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report finds childhood vaccine exemptions at a record high as measles cases rise across the country. The CDC’s SchoolVaxView data for the 2025–26 school year show MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) coverage among U.S. kindergartners fell slightly to 92.4% from 92.5% the year before — below the roughly 95% level commonly cited for herd immunity against measles. Coverage for DTP/DTaP/DT vaccines also declined to about 92.0%.
Exemptions from one or more school-required vaccines increased to 4.2% of kindergartners, up from 3.6% the previous year, affecting an estimated 155,000 children. Exemptions rose in 41 states plus the District of Columbia, and 24 states reported exemption rates above 5%. The CDC estimates roughly 280,000 kindergartners attended school in 2025–26 without documentation of completing the MMR series. Public health experts warn that when unvaccinated children are clustered geographically, even communities with high overall coverage can be vulnerable to outbreaks.
The report comes amid heightened national debate about vaccine policy. An executive order from President Donald Trump proposing to separate the combined MMR shot into three individual vaccines and to expand parental choice has alarmed many public health organizations. That order is not law; states still set school vaccine requirements, and medical groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics have criticized the proposal.
Measles cases in the U.S. have surged. As of August 13, the CDC confirmed 2,566 measles cases in 2026, the highest total in 35 years. More than 94% of those cases were linked to outbreaks, and over half occurred in people 19 and younger. The Pan American Health Organization plans to review the United States’ measles elimination status in November in light of the resurgence.
Experts point to declining routine vaccination coverage and pandemic-era disruptions to medical care as contributing factors for missed or delayed vaccines. The CDC still recommends two doses of MMR: the first at 12–15 months and the second at 4–6 years. Two doses are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.
Pediatricians emphasize the public-health consequences of lower vaccination rates. Graham Tse, MD, chief medical officer at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, said his main concern is for children and infants who suffer severe outcomes from vaccine-preventable diseases. He noted that confusing or inflammatory messaging can increase hesitancy, reduce vaccination rates, and lead to more outbreaks like the current measles surge.
Maintaining high vaccination coverage protects people who cannot be vaccinated, including immunocompromised individuals. When exposure occurs, unvaccinated people may face lengthy isolation — up to 21 days for measles — which can disrupt schooling and social development.
Public health officials urge parents to check their child’s immunization records and talk with pediatricians if vaccinations are overdue. Measles is highly preventable with the recommended two-dose MMR series, but preventing spread requires enough people in each community to be protected.
