CDC releases troubling data on vaccination rates

Vaccination rates among kindergartners continue to decline as nonmedical exemptions increase.

CDC reports further decline in childhood vaccination rates

Vaccination rates for kindergartners in the U.S. have fallen again, with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) coverage dropping from 92.7 percent during the 2023–2024 school year to 92.5 percent for 2024–2025. This decrease, though slight, translates to roughly 286,000 children unprotected against measles, as the nation faces one of its highest measles outbreak rates since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. The situation is alarming as vaccination coverage now sits far below the 95 percent threshold recommended by health experts to prevent disease spread. While some coverage decline can be attributed to pandemic-related disruptions, the growing anti-vaccine sentiment and misinformation are significant contributors to the ongoing downward trend.

This new data illustrates a deepening crisis in public health amidst rising vaccine skepticism. The alarming rise in nonmedical exemptions reflects an ideological divide that could threaten decades of progress in disease prevention. With influential figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advocating against vaccines, the erosion of trust in immunizations continues to pose a risk to community health. The delicate balance required to maintain herd immunity is jeopardized, making public health initiatives more challenging as debates around vaccines intensify.

Highlights

The ongoing decline in vaccination raises significant concerns for the health of future generations.