U.S. vaccination rates are falling and many schools now have fewer immunized kindergartners.

Kindergarten vaccination coverage in the U.S. has declined since before the pandemic. The share of counties with about 95% measles vaccination fell from roughly 50% to 28%, and more schools are now vulnerable to outbreaks. For now, we'll stick to the confirmed facts.

Vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners has declined since before the pandemic, and many school districts now report lower levels of measles vaccination. A Washington Post examination of state records shows far fewer counties meet a 95% vaccination level that doctors associate with herd immunity. School enforcement and record-keeping have changed in many places since the pandemic. Some communities and parents have become more hesitant about government health recommendations. What was reported: - The share of counties with about 95% measles vaccination for kindergartners dropped from roughly 50% before the pandemic to 28% in the most recent data. - The Post gathered county data from 44 states and D.C., and school- or district-level data from 36 states. - The analysis estimates about 5.2 million kindergarten-age children live in counties below the 95% threshold. - Local examples include schools in Sherburne County, Minnesota, where kindergarten vaccination fell from near-universal levels to the low 80s or mid-70s at some schools. - Public health officials and school nurses reported lighter enforcement of vaccine requirements in some districts since the pandemic. Summary: The decline in kindergarten vaccination coverage means more classrooms lack the coverage level doctors identify as herd immunity, which raises the potential for more spread of measles and other vaccine-preventable illnesses in affected areas. Policy and enforcement vary by state and district, and it is not yet clear how those differences will evolve. For now, we'll stick to the confirmed facts.