Story perspectives

CDC: Nonmedical Kindergarten Exemptions Jump 18% to 4%

8/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

CDC data released Monday shows 4% of kindergartners had a nonmedical exemption in 2025-26, an 18% rise and the biggest jump in a decade.
Utah reported nearly 13% of its kindergartners with personal exemptions and faces a measles outbreak that has infected more than 700 people.
New York, which ended religious vaccine opt-outs in 2019, reported no kindergartner exemptions while several states consider loosening or eliminating school vaccine mandates.

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Story summary

CDC data released Monday shows 4% of kindergartners had a nonmedical exemption in 2025-26, an 18% rise and the biggest jump in a decade.
Utah reported nearly 13% of its kindergartners with personal exemptions and faces a measles outbreak that has infected more than 700 people.
New York, which ended religious vaccine opt-outs in 2019, reported no kindergartner exemptions while several states consider loosening or eliminating school vaccine mandates.