ATLANTA, Georgia — Vaccination rates among Georgia kindergarteners remain below 90% for several major childhood diseases, while vaccine exemptions continue to rise, according to newly released federal data.
For the 2025-2026 school year, roughly 89% of Georgia kindergarteners were vaccinated against diseases including measles, diphtheria and polio. That was an improvement from about 87% the previous year, but still below the national rate of roughly 92%. (cdc.gov)
At the same time, about 5.1% of Georgia kindergarteners received vaccine exemptions, up from 4.8% a year earlier. Only 0.1% were medical exemptions, meaning most were granted for other reasons allowed under state law.
The trend matters because measles is highly contagious and requires very high vaccination coverage to prevent sustained spread. Georgia’s current rate remains below the level generally associated with strong population protection. More than 2,500 measles cases have been reported nationally this year, according to the CDC. (cdc.gov)
The data arrives amid a broader political fight over childhood vaccines. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order seeking changes to federal vaccine guidance and challenging states that restrict religious or personal exemptions. He also repeated false claims linking vaccines to autism, despite extensive research finding no causal connection.
Georgia physician Dr. Cecil Bennett blamed misinformation and weak federal leadership for declining confidence in vaccination, urging parents to consult pediatricians and family doctors rather than relying on online claims.
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