More D.C. kindergarteners have vaccine exemptions
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Vaccination rates among D.C. kindergartners decreased during the 2025–2026 school year, according to new data from the CDC.
The big picture: It's part of a national trend. Exemptions from getting one or more vaccines increased in 41 states and D.C., with the U.S. average growing to 4.2% from 3.6% the year before.
- The change coincided with continued efforts by the Trump administration to make controversial vaccine policy changes and with measles cases hitting levels not seen in more than three decades.
State of play: Close to 3.5% of D.C.'s kindergartners had immunization waivers last fall — up from 2.7% in the 2024-2025 school year.
- Compare that to Utah, where 13% of kindergarteners had exemptions last year.
- D.C. is still higher for exemptions than Virginia (3%) and Maryland (2.5%).
Zoom in: Despite the rise in exemptions, D.C.'s vaccination coverage remains relatively high.
- D.C. is above the national median on every major vaccination measure. For measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) coverage, for example, D.C. is at 94.4%, compared with a national median of 92.1%.
Yes, but: Public health officials say overall measles vaccination rates should remain above 95% to maintain herd immunity. It only takes a small drop in the vaccination rate to make herd immunity against measles plummet.
- Nationally, the number of kindergartners attending school without documentation of completing the two-dose MMR vaccine series was about 280,000 in 2025–2026, officials said.
- MMR vaccine coverage among kindergartners by state ranged from 98.9% in West Virginia to 75.2% in Idaho.
Between the lines: Polling shows childhood vaccines remain popular, but administration efforts to upend longstanding vaccine policies could further erode trust, medical experts say.
- President Trump last week signed an executive order calling for a slimmed-down childhood vaccine schedule and breaking the MMR vaccine into three separately administered shots — which some experts worry could be more burdensome for families and leave children vulnerable for longer.
- It also advises states to review federal vaccine recommendations and update their requirements for school enrollment.
Reality check: The CDC says there's "no published scientific evidence [that] shows any benefit in separating the combination MMR vaccine into three individual shots."
What's ahead: Every public school in the District is scheduled to open between Aug. 16 and 31.