U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates decline again while exemptions rise to a record high, according to federal data reported by multiple outlets. The changes are described as incremental but continue a multi-year downward trend in how many kindergarten students receive required vaccinations.
PBS NewsHour and CBS News both note that the exemption rate is reaching new highs for the fourth consecutive year. They report that most exemptions are nonmedical, reflecting parents choosing not to vaccinate for reasons other than a medical need. The Independent and the Washington Times similarly point to kindergarten rates edging down and exemptions climbing to an all-time high, citing the same type of federal posted figures.
While all sources agree on the direction of the trend—lower vaccination coverage and higher exemptions—each outlet emphasizes slightly different framing. CBS News and PBS NewsHour highlight the record-high exemption rate for the 2025–2026 school year and the length of the streak of new records, while The Independent and the Washington Times focus more on the repeated year-over-year decline in kindergarten vaccination rates and the exemption share reaching a new peak.
