Kindergarten vaccine exemptions climbed to a new high while coverage slipped again, widening the door for outbreaks.
Story Highlights
- Federal data show kindergarten exemptions reached 3.6% in 2024–2025, a record high.
- Exemptions rose in 36 states and Washington, D.C., with 17 states above 5%.
- Nonmedical exemptions remain the vast majority of waivers nationwide.
- Trends reflect state policy differences and post‑pandemic drift in routine coverage.
Record Exemptions And Slipping Coverage, By The Numbers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 3.6% of U.S. kindergartners held an exemption from one or more required vaccines in 2024–2025, up from 3.3% the year before. Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C., saw increases, and 17 states reported exemption shares above 5%.
Federal tracking the prior year put exemptions at 3.3%, with medical waivers at about 0.2% and nonmedical waivers making up the rest. Those levels push more classrooms below community protection targets.
Coverage trends have not been a single dip. Federal summaries and independent health briefings show repeated year-over-year increases in exemptions since the pandemic, while routine vaccination rates have slid.
The Kaiser Family Foundation notes exemptions grew from about 2.5% in 2019–2020 to 3.6% in 2024–2025 nationwide. That steady climb matters because disease spreads where clusters of exemptions form, not just where the average is low.
Where Policy Meets Parent Choice
States set school vaccine rules and define the types of exemptions they allow. Almost every state requires shots for measles, mumps, and rubella; diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; polio; and chickenpox to start kindergarten. All states permit medical exemptions. Many also allow religious or personal belief exemptions.
Research and field experience show that simpler processes for claiming an exemption lead to higher exemption rates at schools and districts. That design effect shows up in today’s map.
School vaccination rates inch down again to record low as exemptions reach new high. https://t.co/FyfOtQiufc
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 17, 2026
Nonmedical exemptions dominate the totals. Federal reporting for 2023–2024 found that more than nine in ten exemptions were nonmedical, with medical waivers accounting for nearly two-tenths of one percent.
That balance aligns with older studies that put the national medical exemption median at about the same level years earlier. The rarity of true contraindications explains why policy focus lands on religious and personal belief pathways, school paperwork, and enforcement steps at enrollment.
Why A Few Points Can Tip A Community
Measles spreads quickly and requires very high immunity within a group to stall. When a county or a cluster of schools drops even a few points, the risk shifts from “unlikely” to “one case away.” Parents value choice, and schools need stability.
Both goals align with keeping preventable disease out of classrooms. That is why many states require the same core set of shots before a child walks through the door, and why administrators track compliance at the start of the year.
Routine kindergarten vaccination coverage in the United States declined for the fourth consecutive year during the 2024–2025 school year, while non-medical vaccine exemptions reached an all-time high, according to data released by the…
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— WGOD (@wgodnet) August 18, 2026
Principles favor clear rules, local control, and accountability. The data back simple fixes that do not trample rights. First, make the exemption process serious and consistent, not casual. States with firm documentation and renewal steps see lower nonmedical waiver use.
Second, tighten follow-up for students who are not up to date and not exempt. Third, publish school-level rates so parents can choose with eyes open. Sunlight drives better decisions without heavy mandates.
What To Watch Next School Year
Federal dashboards will show whether the exemption share continues to climb above 3.6% or slows. State trend lines will matter more than the national average. Watch states already above 5%, where outbreaks are most likely if a virus enters a low-coverage pocket.
Track whether schools reduce the number of children who are neither exempt nor fully vaccinated, a group that often reflects missed visits rather than intent. Small improvements there can lift coverage fast.
Sources:
washingtontimes.com, apnews.com, cdc.gov, frontiersin.org
