US Vaccination Rates Fall Again as Exemptions Rise, CDC Data Shows

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that vaccination rates for U.S. kindergarteners fell to 92.4% for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the 2025–2026 school year, down from 92.5% the previous year. This marks the latest decline in a trend that has persisted since the 2019–2020 school year, when rates stood at 95%—the threshold needed to prevent community transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Tech TL;DR:

• Vaccination rates for MMR and DTaP fell to 92.4% and 92.0%, respectively, in 2025–2026.
• Non-medical exemptions increased.

The Nut Graf: A Systemic Erosion of Public Health Safeguards

According to the CDC’s 2025 data, the MMR vaccination rate has remained below the 95% threshold since the start of the pandemic, a trend exacerbated by rising vaccine hesitancy. The KFF.org analysis highlights that three-quarters of states had MMR rates below the target for the 2024-2025 school year, with 16 states reporting rates under 90%—a stark contrast to the three states in 2019–2020.

Exemptions and the Fracturing of Trust

Non-medical exemptions have surged since 2020. The KFF.org report notes that these exemptions are linked to “increasing vaccine hesitancy, fueled in part by vaccine misinformation.” The federal government’s role in shaping vaccine policy has become a flashpoint, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leading efforts to re-examine the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee (ACIP). A 2025 KFF poll found that half of the public believes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made “major” or “minor” changes to vaccine policy, despite no official updates to the childhood vaccination schedule.

Technical Underpinnings: Data Infrastructure and Reporting Gaps

The CDC’s vaccination data is aggregated from state and local immunization programs, a process that relies on standardized reporting protocols.

Cybersecurity Implications: Protecting Public Health Data

The Directory Bridge: IT Triage for Public Health Challenges

The Road Ahead: Policy, Technology, and Public Trust

Without intervention, the U.S. risks losing its measles elimination status, a milestone achieved in 2000.

Disclaimer: The technical analyses and security protocols detailed in this article are for informational purposes only. Always consult with certified IT and cybersecurity professionals before altering enterprise networks or handling sensitive data.