States, Not Federal Order, Set School Vaccine Rules

Childhood vaccination coverage is declining as school vaccine exemptions reach record levels, while states retain authority over requirements despite new federal recommendations.

About 3.6% of U.S. kindergartners had an exemption for at least one required vaccine during the 2024–25 school year, leaving approximately 138,000 children without full coverage; exemptions increased by more than a percentage point over four years.

All 50 states require certain vaccines for school attendance, but only California, Connecticut, Maine and New York prohibit nonmedical exemptions. With U.S. measles cases reaching a 35-year high this year, public health experts emphasize vaccine confidence and sustained immunization coverage. Read more from CNN here.