Kindergarten Routine Vaccination Rates Continue to Decline Authors: Elizabeth Williams, Clea Bell, Josh Michaud, and Jennifer Kates Published: Aug 21, 2026

https://www.kff.org/medicaid/kindergarten-routine-vaccination-rates-continue-to-decline/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--BV6sB0fIdxdx0X7Mhk74mTg7TrJPQ5yUHZQTJKMIZmdh_9O8k-9vXkxeJHhuZ4ph-A7ZNYcRiTskZyUKUGYAIVzyB1w&_hsmi=434352951&utm_content=434352951&utm_source=hs_email Kindergarten Routine Vaccination Rates Continue to Decline 260820_States-Increases-in-Vaccine-Exemption-Rates-in-Recent-Years_F[1] As measles cases rise across the U.S., children’s routine vaccination rates continue to decline while exemptions from school vaccination requirements, particularly non-medical exemptions, have increased. In a new analysis, KFF finds that about 280,000 kindergarteners were unvaccinated against measles in the 2025–2026 school year, and for the sixth year in a row, MMR vaccinations fell below the 95% level needed to prevent community transmission.