Measles cases reach record highs
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
CDC reports 2,566 measles cases this year, highest in 35 years. Kindergarten vaccine exemptions hit record 4.2%, fueling outbreak risk.
Background
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but vaccination rates have been declining for years. For the 2025-2026 school year, the CDC reported that kindergarten MMR vaccination coverage fell to 92.4%, below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. Exemptions from school vaccine requirements rose to a record 4.2%, with most being non-medical. This has led to the worst measles outbreak in decades, with cases already exceeding the total for all of 2025.
How it unfolded
- Mar 28, 2025ProPublica reports CDC buried a forecast warning of high measles risk in areas with low vaccination rates.
- Jul 2026CDC data shows 2,318 measles cases recorded this year, the highest since elimination.
- Aug 17, 2026CDC releases kindergarten vaccination data for 2025-2026: exemptions hit record 4.2%, MMR coverage at 92.4%.
- Aug 18, 2026CDC reports 2,566 confirmed measles cases, 101 more than the previous week, exceeding 2025's total.
Who’s saying what
- Public Health Officials
- Andrew Racine of the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that even small drops in vaccination rates can lead to outbreaks, as herd immunity requires over 95% immunization.
- Experts
- Experts attribute the surge in measles cases to lower vaccine uptake, with many unvaccinated children concentrated in certain areas.
- Media Analysis
- Left-leaning outlets frame the decline as a steady erosion linked to rising cases, while centrist outlets emphasize the precise 0.1% drop.
Still unverified
The claim that federal officials are spreading misleading vaccine information is attributed to Andrew Racine and is not independently verified.