CDC data shows MMR vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners has fallen to 92.4%, while vaccine exemptions reached a record 4.2% amid a 35-year high in measles cases.
Key facts
- •MMR vaccination coverage for kindergartners fell from 92.5% in 2024–25 to 92.4% in 2025–26.
- •The 4.2% exemption rate for the 2025–26 school year affects approximately 155,000 children.
- •Measles cases reached 2,566 as of August 13, marking a 35-year high in the United States.
- •Two doses of the MMR vaccine are estimated to be about 97% effective at preventing measles.
- •The Pan American Health Organization will review the U.S. measles elimination status in November.
A new CDC report reveals that MMR vaccination coverage for U.S. kindergartners declined to 92.4% during the 2025–26 school year, falling further below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. Simultaneously, exemptions from school-required vaccines rose to a record 4.2%. These trends coincide with a surge in measles, with 2,566 confirmed cases reported as of August 13, the highest number in 35 years.
By the numbers
Rising Exemptions and Declining Coverage
The CDC report, released August 17, indicates that approximately 280,000 kindergartners attended school in 2025–26 without documentation of completing the MMR vaccine series. Exemptions from at least one required vaccine increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia, with 24 states reporting exemption rates exceeding 5%. Medical exemptions are granted for health-related reasons, while nonmedical exemptions typically cover religious or philosophical objections.
Policy Changes and Public Health Concerns
President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order aiming to split the MMR vaccine into three separate shots and limit other childhood vaccines. While the order is not yet federal law and does not immediately change vaccination schedules, the administration intends to encourage states to adopt these new guidelines, potentially linking them to federal funding. Medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have expressed criticism of the proposal.
Impact of Low Vaccination Rates
Experts warn that declining coverage and localized clusters of unvaccinated children are fueling the resurgence of measles. More than half of the 2,566 cases reported in 2026 have occurred in children aged 19 and younger. The Pan American Health Organization is scheduled to review the United States' measles elimination status in November. Pediatricians emphasize that vaccines remain the primary tool for preventing serious illness, disability, and death from infectious diseases.
Timeline
- August 13The CDC confirmed 2,566 measles cases in the United States.
- August 17The CDC released a report detailing vaccination coverage and exemption rates for the 2025–26 school year.
- NovemberThe Pan American Health Organization will review the United States' measles elimination status.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Healthline.
