Kindergarten vaccination rates decline as exemptions rise, CDC data shows

A woman walks toward a school with a small child.

U-M School of Public Health expert weights in on the new findings

August 20, 2026

Declining vaccine coverage and rising exemption rates continue to be a worrisome trend, says Dr. Anand Parekh, University of Michigan School of Public Health Chief Health Policy Officer. New data released this week by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that coverage for every reported childhood vaccine dropped among US kindergarteners compared to the previous year, while the number of children with an exemption rose to 4.2%, up from 3.6% the year before.

“Inaccurate COVID-19 revisionism related to the effectiveness of public health interventions, such as vaccines, have resulted in spillover effects to childhood vaccinations. Public officials and influencers have created further confusion in the minds of many parents. But there should be no equivocation—childhood vaccines are both safe and effective in preventing infectious diseases,” Parekh said.

The data also points to steep declines closer to home. In Michigan, the estimated overall vaccination rate has fallen to 90.9%, down from 91.6% last year and 95.7% a decade ago. Exemptions in the state now stand at 7.7% overall, with non-medical exemptions alone accounting for 7.5%. That’s more than double the 3.5% recorded ten years ago and up from 6.5% last year.

“We need to make sure that Michiganders have the most accurate scientific information about vaccines as they make health decisions for their families and children.”

This trend is particularly concerning for highly transmissible diseases like measles, which requires a community vaccination rate of roughly 95% to maintain herd immunity. With Michigan now well below that threshold, risk for outbreaks increases.