This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a red flag for community health. Lower vaccination rates increase the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases, especially in schools where kids are in close contact. The dip suggests growing vaccine hesitancy or access issues, which could have real consequences for kids and families. Public health experts are likely to sound the alarm, urging action to reverse the trend.

Vaccinations among kindergarteners declined during the 2024-25 school year compared to the year before, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).   Rates dipped to 92.1 percent for the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) and to 92.5 percent for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) and...

New CDC data reveals a concerning drop in vaccination rates among kindergarteners during the 2024-25 school year. Key vaccines like DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) saw declines, with rates falling to 92.1% and 92.5%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Fewer kindergarteners are being vaccinated, CDC data show

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