The CDC reports that vaccine exemptions for U.S. kindergarteners reach a record high, rising to 4.2% in newly released data. The increase reflects the share of children who are exempt from routine vaccination requirements as they enter kindergarten.
The CDC’s figures provide a national snapshot of exemption rates, but outlets focus on different implications of the trend. ABC News emphasizes the record-high level itself and cites the CDC’s release date. Other coverage may contextualize the number by comparing it with prior years or discussing state-by-state rules for exemptions, which can affect how and why exemption rates change over time. Overall, the reported increase is based on CDC-tracked data tied to kindergarten immunization coverage.
