The U.S. kindergarten vaccination rate continues to decline while vaccine exemptions reach a record high, according to federal CDC data for the 2025–2026 school year. CBS News and other outlets report that exemptions rise to 4.2%, covering an estimated 155,000 children nationwide.
Several sources say this is the fourth consecutive year the national average exemption rate hits a new record, and that vaccination rates “inch down again.” PBS NewsHour and other coverage add that the vast majority of exemptions are nonmedical and are filed by parents. The Washington Times and MedPage Today likewise describe a continued downward trend in vaccination coverage alongside the increase in exemptions.
Outlets differ mainly in emphasis and wording—some highlight the record exemption level, others stress falling vaccination rates, but all point to the same CDC-reported figures and the multi-year pattern. One account also notes that exemptions increase in 41 states and the District of Columbia.
