CDC reports U.S. kindergarten vaccine exemptions rose to 4.2% in 2025-26 school year
Source: CBS News · All CBS News reports
Why this grade: Graded A-: core CDC statistics and measles case trends verified by primary data; minor issues include approximate Idaho exemption figure and simplified description of the recent executive order's legal reach.
Why this lean: Presented CDC data and public-health implications with an expert guest; noted the Trump order without loaded framing or one-sided sourcing.
Embed this grade
Disagree with this grade or political lean?
Tell us why. Your note is reprocessed through the same grading logic; if the output is still off the report is removed, and if it holds up it stays.
Topics in this report
Summary
The segment covers new CDC data released for the 2025-2026 school year showing a 0.1% drop in kindergarten vaccination coverage and a rise in exemptions to 4.2% from 3.6%. It discusses implications for measles outbreaks, herd immunity, and the recent Trump executive order encouraging religious exemptions.
The report features CBS medical correspondent Dr. Selene Gounder explaining state vs. federal roles, medical vs. religious exemptions, outcomes in states that removed religious exemptions (California, Connecticut, Maine, New York), and risks to unvaccinated or immunocompromised children. Sourcing centers on CDC statistics and the expert's analysis.
Editorial Assessment
The broadcast accurately reports the CDC's August 2026 release on rising exemptions and falling coverage, corroborated across multiple outlets. It correctly contextualizes the 95% measles herd-immunity threshold and notes stable medical exemptions. The description of the Trump executive order as directing states is directionally accurate but understates its advisory nature and focus on litigation. Viewers miss nuance on state-level variation in exemption types and enforcement, as well as the precise Idaho rate (reported near 15% in recent prior data). Overall framing emphasizes outbreak risks without partisan language.
Key Moments
Vaccination rates decreased by 0.1% last year for tracked vaccines; exemptions rose to 4.2% from 3.6%.
Matches CDC SchoolVaxView data for 2025-2026 school year released August 2026.
Trump order tells states to allow religious exemptions from school vaccine requirements.
August 10, 2026 executive order directs AG actions and pressures states on religious/medical exemptions.
Four states (NY, CA, CT, ME) eliminated religious exemptions and saw rates rise.
Documented in CDC analyses and state policy summaries; those states retain only medical exemptions.
Idaho has 18% exemption rate; 95% coverage needed for measles herd immunity.
Idaho rates reported around 15% in recent years; 95% threshold is standard CDC guidance for measles.
This year marked a 35-year high in measles cases.
Over 2,200 cases by July 2026, exceeding 1991 totals, per CDC and Johns Hopkins trackers.
Sources Consulted
- Vaccination Coverage and Exemptions among Kindergartners — CDC
- Vaccine exemption rate for kindergarteners reaches record high: CDC - ABC News
- Record share of kindergartners missed required vaccines - CNN
- US measles cases reach 35-year high - CIDRAP
- Trump order directs Justice Department to sue states over vaccine exemptions - Jurist
- State Non-Medical Exemptions from School Immunization Requirements - NCSL