Vaccination rates among U.S. kindergarten students decreased during the 2024-2025 school year, according to federal data released Thursday.

In addition, exemptions from one or more vaccines increased to 3.6% in 2024-2025 from 3.3% the year before, the CDC website said. Exemptions, which can be granted on medical or religious grounds, increased in 36 states and DC, with 17 states reporting exemptions exceeding 5 percent, it said.

A record share of US kindergartners had an exemption for a required vaccination last school year, and coverage for all reported vaccines – including the measles vaccine – was lower than the year before,