Recent data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates fell slightly in the 2025-2026 school year.
Former vice chair of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Dr. Robert Malone told Fox News Digital the drop is nothing to be concerned about.
The CDC on Monday released vaccination data for the 2025-2026 school year showing a 0.1% decline in vaccination coverage among children entering kindergarten and an increase in parents claiming vaccine exemptions for their children. Malone, however, downplayed the significance of the decline.
"The latest CDC data indicates a 0.1% year-in-year decline in the uptake or acceptance of the vaccine schedule among kindergartners. In certain contexts, the average across the United States shows roughly a 1% shift. Regardless, we are still talking about a very low single-digit lack of compliance with the CDC's recommended vaccine schedule," Malone, an accredited physician and veteran scientist, told Fox News Digital.
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"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 Fox News Digital.
He also added that vaccination is still the best protection against contracting measles.
"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 Fox News Digital.
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 down tick 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 Fox News Digital.
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 Fox News Digital.
"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 Fox News Digital.
"The takeaway is simple: keep calm and carry on. There is nothing in this data to panic about," Malone concluded.
