The latest findings from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal a minor dip in kindergarten vaccination rates for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Dr. Robert Malone, who once served as vice chair of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), has assured News Media that this decrease is not a cause for alarm.
In a statement released on Monday, the CDC highlighted a slight 0.1% reduction in vaccination coverage among new kindergarten students, accompanied by a rise in parents requesting vaccine exemptions for their children. Despite these figures, Dr. Malone emphasized that the decline is minimal and should not be overemphasized.
“According to the latest data from the CDC, there is a 0.1% decline compared to the previous year in vaccine acceptance among kindergartners. Across various regions of the country, we observe about a 1% variation on average. Nonetheless, this reflects a very minor deviation from the CDC’s advised vaccine schedule,” Dr. Malone, a respected physician and seasoned scientist, commented to News Media.
Dr. Robert Malone speaks during the inaugural meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices at the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta in 2025. (Ben Hendren/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Those are the facts,” he continued, “and they are not particularly alarming.”
“Even by the CDC’s own report, we still maintain a very high rate of compliance among kindergartners,” he added.
Malone also criticized the media for its coverage of the data drop.
“The narrative that this represents a clear and compelling signal of parents becoming disaffected with vaccination… whoever’s promoting that kind of messaging, it’s not in the data,” he added.
Malone specifically cited CNBC’s coverage and its mention of an ongoing measles outbreak in the U.S., stressing that the U.S. is not an outlier.
“Media outlets like CNBC have highlighted that we are in the middle of a historic measles outbreak. However, context is critical: this outbreak is not restricted to the United States. It is occurring worldwide, including in Canada and across many nations that have not experienced this level of vaccine controversy or hesitancy,” he told News Media.
He also added that vaccination is still the best protection against contracting measles.
A paramedic administers a dose of the measles vaccine at a health center in Lubbock, Texas, in 2025. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
“Regarding the overall picture: measles cases are on the rise globally, and vaccination remains the most effective protection against infection. However, does this new kindergarten data represent a major threat? Absolutely not,” he stated to News Media.
Malone, who was a vocal critic of vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, did pin some blame on falling trust in the scientific establishment for the slight downtick in inoculations.
“Does it represent a potential signal that a certain part of the population, very small, is growing in its skepticism of the benefits of childhood vaccination? I would say, yeah, that is that signal,” he told News Media.
Still, despite growing mistrust, vaccination rates remain strong, Malone argued.
“I think we can all agree [there were] failures in accurate communication by the government during COVID. And certainly they’re highlighted in the recent Tony Fauci hearings and the various disclosures coming out of the Senate,” Malone told News Media.
Former NIH Director Anthony Fauci testifies to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on July 29, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)
“Despite all of that, despite all the controversy around the potential role, the hypothesized role of childhood vaccine schedules being linked in some way to autism, we still have very robust year-in, year-out uptake of vaccines in kindergarten ages,” Malone told News Media.
“The takeaway is simple: keep calm and carry on. There is nothing in this data to panic about,” Malone concluded.