Vaccine exemption rates among kindergartners hit an all-time high of 4.2% in the 2025-26 school year, nearly double the rate from 2020-21.
Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine coverage fell to 92.4%, below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.
Idaho leads the nation with a 17.5% exemption rate, while California, New York and West Virginia report rates as low as 0.1%.
Parents cite growing skepticism, expanded vaccine schedules and eroded trust in government messaging as reasons for seeking exemptions.
The CDC has softened its response, encouraging doctor-parent dialogue rather than mandates, amid ongoing policy debates.
A growing number of American families are choosing to exempt their children from school-entry vaccines, pushing exemption rates to an all-time high. The new federal data, released Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveals a widening gap between public health recommendations and parental choices.
Read Full Article: https://www.naturalnews.com/2026-08-19-vaccine-exemptions-climb-parents-push-back-mandates.html
