US Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Fall as Exemptions Hit Record High

The charts keep falling, exemptions climb high,
Parents decide while officials sigh.
One shot or none—the choice stays free,
A nation debates what “safe” should be.

National kindergarten vaccination coverage edged lower once more last year while the share of children receiving exemptions climbed to the highest level on record, according to newly released federal figures.

The Latest Numbers

Coverage for key childhood vaccines slipped further below the traditional 95 percent target that public-health officials long considered the threshold for community protection. At the same time, non-medical exemptions based on personal or religious belief continued their upward trend across multiple states.

Parental Decisions and State Rules

The rise in exemptions reflects growing numbers of families choosing to opt out under existing state laws. Public-health agencies continue to urge high coverage, while many parents emphasize the right to make medical decisions for their own children. Several states have tightened or loosened exemption rules in recent years, producing a patchwork of requirements.