U.S. Childhood Vaccine Exemptions Hit Record High Again

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Vaccine exemptions among U.S. kindergartners reached an all-time high last year, as routine immunization rates continued to decline, according to new data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The exemption rate rose to 4.1% for the 2024–25 school year, up from 3.7% the previous year, marking the third consecutive record-breaking year. Most of these exemptions were for nonmedical reasons.

At the same time, the national vaccination rate for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine dropped to 92.5%, slightly below last year’s rate and continuing a downward trend that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, the MMR coverage rate for kindergartners stood at 95%.

All U.S. states and territories require children in schools and child care centers to receive immunizations against several infectious diseases, including polio, tetanus, whooping cough and chickenpox. While all states allow medical exemptions, most also permit exemptions for religious or philosophical reasons.

The CDC noted that medical exemption rates have remained stable at around 0.2% for the past decade, while nonmedical exemptions have steadily increased.

“The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. Parents should consult their health care providers on options for their families,” the CDC said in a statement.

Experts have pointed to declining trust in pharmaceutical companies and vaccines since the pandemic as a contributing factor to the shift in vaccination attitudes.