Record High Vaccine Exemptions Among U.S. Kindergartners Raise Health Concerns

New CDC data reveals a decline in vaccination rates, increasing the risk of preventable disease outbreaks.

More than 125,000 kindergartners started the last school year without at least one recommended vaccine, according to CDC data.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rate dropped to 92.7%, below the CDC's 95% target needed to prevent outbreaks.
Exemptions from routine vaccinations reached a record 3.3%, with non-medical exemptions continuing to rise.
Health officials attribute the decline in vaccination rates to misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and lack of access to healthcare.
Recent outbreaks of measles and whooping cough have been reported in communities with low vaccination rates.