Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Vaccine exemptions among U.S. kindergarteners hit a new high in the 2025-2026 school year, rising to 4.2% as vaccination coverage slipped for every childhood vaccine tracked nationally, according to new CDC-reported data.

The exemption rate climbed from 3.6% the previous school year, a jump that translates to about 155,000 kindergarteners with exemptions from one or more required vaccines. The increase was widespread: exemption rates rose in 41 states and Washington, D.C.

READ MORE: fox56.com/news/nation-world/cdc-us-kindergarten-vaccine-exemptions-hit-record-high-as-coverage-falls-nationwide

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