Vaccine exemptions rise in 36 states

Data: CDC; Map: Axios VisualsVaccination coverage among American kindergarteners decreased for all reported vaccines during the 2024-2025 school year, according to data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Why it matters: The drop coincides with measles cases hitting a 33-year high in the U.S., while Trump's Health Department secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., upends long-standing vaccine norms.What they're saying: "The decision to vaccinate is a personal one," reads a Health Department statement emailed to Axios. "Parents should consult their healthcare providers on options for their families."Vaccination remains the "most effective way" to protect children from serious diseases like measles that can lead to "hospitalization and long-term health complications," the statement continues.By the numbers: Exemptions from one or more vaccines among kindergarteners increased to 3.6% from 3.3%, when compared to the 2023-2024 school year.Exemptions grew in 36 states and in D.C., and 17 states reported exemption numbers exceeding 5%.Idaho and Utah had the highest percentages of kindergarteners exempted from one or more vaccines, at 15.4% and 10.3% each, respectively.West Virginia and Montana did not report numbers to the CDC. Zoom out: America is experiencing its highest annual measles rate count since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.As of Tuesday, the CDC has confirmed a total of 1,333 measles cases, and 29 outbreaks have been reported in 2025. Of the 1,333 cases, kids under age 5 make up 29% of confirmed cases, and people 5-19 years old make up 37%.Nationally, only 92.5% of kindergarteners are estimated to be up to date with their measles vaccines, below the CDC's targeted herd immunity level of 95%. Go deeper: RFK Jr. blows up America's vaccine policy

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