A record percentage of U.S. kindergartners received exemptions from at least one required vaccination during the 2025-26 school year, according to new federal data. The increase comes as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to expand parental choice and reshape the federal government’s approach to childhood immunization.
Trump Executive Order Seeks More Parental Choice
Trump signed an executive order last week offering recommendations intended to “give parents more information and options” about childhood vaccines.
The order emphasizes the administration’s goal of maximizing parental choice and says states should provide religious and medical exemptions from school vaccination requirements.
State governments, however, retain the authority to establish and enforce vaccine requirements for students. Although every state permits medical exemptions, most also allow exemptions based on religious beliefs, personal convictions or both.
The administration has signaled that it will encourage states to revise their vaccination policies to reflect updated federal guidelines. The order directs the Department of Justice, Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services to explore tying compliance to federal funding.
It remains unclear how those agencies would implement or enforce such a policy.
Kindergarten Vaccine Exemptions Reach Record High
Data published Monday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 4.2% of kindergartners had an exemption from at least one required vaccine during the 2025-26 school year.
The figure represents the highest exemption rate recorded by the agency and is twice the percentage reported a decade ago.
Approximately 157,000 children entering school lacked full protection against at least one state-mandated disease, nearly 20,000 more than during the previous school year.
Nonmedical Exemptions Drive the Increase
Only 0.2% of kindergartners received medical exemptions, a proportion that has remained relatively stable for years. The overwhelming majority of exemptions were granted for nonmedical reasons.
Exemption rates increased in all but nine states, according to the CDC. Nearly half of states reported rates above 5%.
The National Conference of State Legislatures says California, Connecticut, Maine and New York are the only states that do not permit nonmedical exemptions from school vaccine requirements.
New York eliminated religious exemptions in 2019 after measles outbreaks in the state became some of the largest recorded in the United States in decades.
MMR Vaccination Rate Remains Below Public Health Target
The national measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rate among kindergartners declined slightly, from 92.5% to 92.4%.
That level remains below the 95% coverage public health experts generally consider necessary to provide community-wide protection against measles and reduce the risk of outbreaks.
Because measles spreads easily, pockets of under-vaccinated children can face heightened risks even when statewide or national vaccination levels appear relatively high.
States Retain Control Over School Vaccine Policies
State authority over vaccination requirements has faced legal challenges in the past but has broadly been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
States are now reviewing the Trump administration’s executive order. Several have indicated that it does not automatically require changes to their existing laws, including states that typically follow federal vaccine recommendations and those that have adopted separate policies.
“Federal recommendations do not change the requirements in Texas,” the state health department said in an email to CNN.
The executive order may increase pressure on states to reconsider school vaccination rules, particularly if federal agencies link funding to compliance. For now, however, state laws remain in effect as childhood vaccine exemptions continue to rise nationwide.
Abigail Prescott is a contributor to Campuslately.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, accurate reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging trends. With a reader-first approach, Abigail highlights stories that matter, providing balanced coverage and accessible insights on issues relevant to everyday audiences.
